Metro Manila, Philippines – Dwyane Wade’s visit to the country was a long time coming.
When it finally happened, nine years after he promised, the three-time NBA champion immediately felt the love that only Filipinos can give to a treasured legend.
I will I will I promise https://t.co/87ZDHIZ4oI
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) July 10, 2017
The Hall of Famer is in town for a two-day event – “TADHANA: Make Your Own Way Tour.”
“I’ve just felt love. You know, everybody back home, you know, it’s a lot of energy back home too. And everyone’s reaching out to me and they’re like, How is it? How is it? I’m just like, only a four letter word. It’s just love. And I felt that,” the 44-year-old said in front of local media on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The trip to Manila is a chance for Wade to connect with a community that shares the same passion for the game that already immortalized him as one of the best.
“This is a place that I’ve been wanting to visit for a very long time. And it’s because of everything that I heard. About the community here, about the culture here, and about the love of the sport that I fell in love with,” he said.
When asked about his former Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, Wade had nothing but praises for his Filipino-American mentor. They won three NBA titles with the Heat franchise.
“He’s incredible. And, you know, as I say, he’s one of the greatest coaches. And he didn’t start off as one of the greatest coaches, he worked and built himself to become. One of the greatest coaches in this game,” he said.
