The Philippines is a basketball-crazy nation. Just take a stroll around Manila, and you would easily find a well-established court or a makeshift one. Better yet, compete with some of them and see for yourself how passionate most Filipinos are for the sport.
The game is truly everywhere. A way of life even. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that several local personalities can also buckle down to business on the hardcourt. Yes, these men are celebrities with some of the most hectic of schedules. But still, no one could ever deny their skills to run an intense pick-up game at any given moment.
Gerald Anderson
Gerald Anderson is a professional entertainer. Indeed, he is quite known for making a living out of his impressive acting wares and dashing looks. But not to the knowledge of many, he also gets paid to leave spectators’ mouths agape with his basketball prowess.
In recent years, the Filipino-American actor has been venturing into some of the country’s biggest basketball leagues. Back in 2018, he made the headlines by suiting up for the Marikina Shoemasters in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. Over a year after that, he took his talents to Imus Bandera, serving as an integral cog for Luxxe Slim. He also saw action in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3, a tournament that featured some of the brightest prospects.
All in all, the 5-foot-11 stud can get buckets. While it is true that he only has a few playing years to his name, his basketball stints already speak volumes of his talent.
There is no denying that the General Santos City native is already an established celebrity in his own right. Still, he is clearly not done making a name for himself.
Xian Lim
In a sport where height is might, Xian Lim, who stands at 6-foot-2, can definitely hold his own. The Filipino-American actor debuted in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League back in 2018, much like Anderson. But for his part, he only committed for one team ever since, the Mandaluyong El Tigre.
By all accounts, Lim undeniably has the physical makings to command attention in the post. Make no mistake, though, his towering frame and sturdily built physique are not the only things going for him. He has the skillset and experience to take on stiff competition, too.
In retrospect, the 31-year-old used to serve as a varsity player for the University of the East. This obviously happened way before he was thrust into the spotlight of being a celebrity. No wonder he is a warrior on the court.
Derek Ramsay
Who says Anderson and Lim are the only television personalities who can participate in such a highly-competitive basketball level?
Well, anyone who knows Derek Ramsay would disagree. The 43-year-old iron man recently laced up his sneakers, making his debut in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. He was recruited by Batangas City Tanduay Athletics and was introduced to the league for the first time last year.
Fair warning: Don’t let the 5-foot-11 actor’s age deceive you. He may be past his prime, but he’s more than capable of handling the tough grind of being an athlete. Save for his chiseled physique, he also has had experience of competing as a sportsman.
In an article from Spin.ph, it was revealed that Ramsay played in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL). This took place almost 16 years ago after the Toyota Otis-Letran Knights acquired for his services. Aside from that, he also bannered the country’s tricolors in 2012, as part of the Philippine national ultimate frisbee squad.
Even in sports, sometimes age is truly just a number — and Ramsay is a testament to that.
Daniel Padilla
Daniel John Ford Padilla is a dead-eye shooter. This is by no means referring to the way he shoots down the hearts of thousands with his good looks. Instead, this is the perfect description for his marksmanship on a basketball court.
Torching the net is one of the 5-foot-9 actor’s favorite pastime, so it seems. He has gone viral on multiple occasions after renting community courts at night and showing out with a shooting display. Besides, whenever Star Magic organizes an All-Star Game, he would always make his presence felt from three-point territory.
Safe to say, Padilla has one of, if not the best shooting mechanics among local television personalities. This could somehow be attributed to the fact that he looks up to National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Stephen Curry. For starters, Curry, a two-time league Most Valuable Player, is dubbed as the greatest shooter of all-time. So, there is no wonder one of his biggest Filipino fans can actually stroke it from deep.
Sure, the 25-year-old star draws attention whenever he has a ball on his hand. But apparently, supporters aren’t the only ones impressed by his repertoire. The AMA Titans once drafted him in the PBA Developmental League back in 2014, though his debut didn’t pan out.
Andre Paras
This one is a no-brainer.
Andre Paras was bound to assert dominance under the rim ever since he was born. For those clueless about his roots, the 6-foot-4 actor is the son of PBA legend Benjie Paras. He is also the elder brother of Kobe Paras, who’s pegged as one of the future pillars of Philippine basketball.
While it is true that he pursued the path of showbiz stardom, Paras played varsity basketball at La Salle Greenhills and University of the Philippines. The 24-year-old has also had a change of heart, remaining close to the sport in recent years. For one, he heeded the call of duty for the AMA Titans in the PBA D-League. There, he established himself as an undersized big man that can fulfill the role of a tenacious defensive lynchpin. His strong showing eventually paved the way for his stint with Imus Bandera in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
If this still doesn’t validate his ability on the hardcourt, veteran coach Chot Reyes has a few words for you. As how he put it in an interview with Spin.ph, “I think he’s [Paras] a player”.
Ronnie Alonte
In recent memory, Ronnie Alonte is one of the flashiest celebrities in the showbiz landscape. So eye-catching that he could even turn heads and raise eyebrows whenever he steps onto a basketball court. Yes, this 5-foot-10 actor is that capable of a hooper.
The 23-year-old artist may have never had club teams asking for his services unlike the ones before him on this list, but he still has the arsenal to make it in the big stage. In every showcase he has played in, he has proven time and time again that scoring is his calling card. From fast break layups, euro steps to long-range jumpers, you can bet that he will always deliver the goods.
Rayver Cruz
Rayver Cruz has always been known as someone who makes hard choreographies look easy. He would bust out a series of difficult dance moves with almost minimum wasted effort. And that seems to have translated well on a basketball court.
A fixture in celebrity basketball showcases, Cruz’s game is quietly efficient. He isn’t exactly the player that draws oohs and ahhs from the crowd, but he will definitely leave an imprint. Simply put, he contributes on a variety of ways other than scoring. These includes crashing the boards, handing out screens and playing good, honest defense.
But make no mistake, the six-footer can carry the offensive load, if needed to. In the Wish 107.5 Olympics last February this year, Cruz did just that. He unloaded 23 points in the face of a team led by PBA greats Allan Caidic and Jayjay Helterbrand.
Ion Perez
When Ion Perez participated in the Star Magic All-Star Games 2019, everyone knew that they will be seeing him in a true-to-life, romance-comedy skit with Vice Ganda during the game. While he met the very expectations of the crowd, no one saw his offensive outburst coming.
In a match that went into a seat-grabbing double overtime, the 5-foot-10 host took charge for Team It’s Showtime. He came through at the most critical juncture, trading crucial blows with Gerald Anderson and Daniel Padilla. However, his scoring tear went for naught as Team Star Magic pulled away with a 119-109 victory.
Still, despite the loss, the 29-year-old Perez proved that he can ball out with the best of them. And this is by no means a product of sheer luck. He has been a lover of basketball for a very long time, playing it as early as he could remember. He even admitted in a PUSH interview that his dream has always been to go pro. With a burning desire of making it big, he continues to hone his skills and get better.
If ever you think celebrity basketball showcases would lack intensity and not be entertaining to watch, then think again. The guys on this list might just drop stellar performances that could be a sight to behold.