Rubio predicts Pinoys would make it to NBA

MANILA, Philippines - It took Minnesota Timberwolves’ star Ricky Rubio one pick-up game with local streetballers to size up the Filipinos’ brand of play.

“The Philippines play an NBA style of game, they’re very good,” said Rubio, who mixed it up with some Manila streetballers at the Anda street in Intramuros yesterday.

Rubio had wanted to see how passionate the Filipinos are about basketball after the FIBA World Cup, which they hosted last year and where Gilas Pilipinas made an impact along with the Filipino fans that came from all over Spain.

“I have much love for the Philippines last year when they were in Spain (FIBA World Cup) and the fans of the Philippines won an award for that. I want to see that kind of passion personally,” said Rubio in yesterday’s press conference at the Adidas outlet at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Rubio, picked fifth overall in the 2009 NBA draft, later met with the fans and signed autographs and posed for photo-ops with them.

Despite the Filipinos’ size, Rubio believes local players have what it takes to make it to the world stage.

“You can see a lot of teams in the NBA going small ball now. The Golden State Warriors are one of them. They play fast and just keep on shooting,” Rubio said.

The 25-year-old Spaniard is in the country to promote Adidas’ Crazylight Boost 2015, which features the first ever Primeknit technology and coupled with industry-leading Boost cushioning technology, which is Adidas’ most innovative basketball shoe ever.

The Crazylight Boost 2015 solar blue colorway features a total Primeknit upper and speckled midsole for added style.

Aside from basketball, Rubio is also a huge football fan. In fact, he is set to play some games with Azkals standouts Phil and James Younghusband today.