Rice in triple threats list

NBA veteran Glen Rice wasn’t shy in naming himself as one of the league’s top five three-point shooters in history during his recent Manila visit to celebrate Filipino Heritage Week. But at least, he wasn’t at the head of the list.

The first name he called out was Larry Bird. Then came Steph Curry. Rice appeared to struggle in singling out others to complete his five. So he put himself in the lineup. Finally, Rice mentioned Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. He particularly cited Thompson for his stroke and accuracy from distance. Three of the five are playing for the Golden State Warriors this season and if Durant is able to come back from injury, Rice said that’s the team to beat in the Finals.

Rice said he expects Golden State and Cleveland to lock horns in the Finals for the third straight season. In 2015, the Warriors beat the Cavs in six for the crown. Last year, Cleveland had its revenge and took out Golden State in seven, coming from 1-3 down. If Durant is back in the lineup for the Finals, Rice said the Warriors will regain the throne.

Rice, 49, gained a reputation as a lights-out shooter when he set a University of Michigan record by hitting 51.6 percent from beyond the arc in 1988-89. He went on to capture the NBA Three-Point Shootout title in 1995 and led the league in three-point field goal percentage by connecting 47 percent in 1996-97. Rice ended his NBA career hitting 40 percent from three-point range, knocking down 1,588 shots of 3,902 attempts. He’s No. 21 in the ladder for most three-point shots converted in the NBA. Ray Allen is No. 1 and Reggie Miller, No. 2. Neither made it to Rice’s top five shooters list.

Rice played in the NBA from Miami in 1989 to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004. He said today’s game is softer than before. “The game has changed, it was a lot more physical when I played,” he said. “It was more of a half-court game but now, it’s wide open, the tempo is a lot faster, guys are shooting more three-pointers. It’s enabled a lot of guys to be much better players. I would’ve liked to play in both eras.”

Rice said he has advised his son Glen, Jr., 26, “to get his butt back in the league.” Glen, Jr. played two years with the Washington Wizards in 2013-14 and 2014-15 but is now in the NBA D-League. “As a former NBA player, I never gave up on my dream until I retired because at that point, I’d accomplished my dream,” he said. “Before my son got there, I told him to keep working hard, to develop the respect for the game, go out there and give it your all. Once he got there, I told him to keep working hard. Every year, you got somebody trying to take your job. Work doesn’t stop because you got there. At any given year, you can be replaced.” 

Former PBA player and now City Club Makati general manager Nic Belasco said this summer, the three-level business and leisure hub will be busy with sports camps. He’ll be on top of the basketball program on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. with one, five to 10 sessions open to beginners and advanced players. PBA guard Josh Urbiztondo’s wife Alexis, who is from Hawaii, will conduct hula dance classes from April 6 to July 6 for kids and adults. 

Former La Salle Lady Spiker Wensh Tiu began her volleyball classes last March 5 and she’s on the court on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon up to April 9. TV broadcaster Anthony Suntay’s sister-in-law Anna will teach ballet for kids and adults on Mondays and Wednesdays. Lloyd Escoses will run a badminton camp every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.