Sabrina Ionescu witnesses a taste of the Philippines' love affair with basketball

Sabrina Ionescu

It was not long before Sabrina Ionescu figured out how much the Philippines loves its basketball.

Fresh from touching down after crossing the Pacific Ocean to kickstart her Asian Tour, she got to see the announcement of her Asian Tour with Nike on the 5th Avenue 3D Billboard at BGC on Sunday night.

The first official day of her tour saw her visit the House of Sabrina at Nike Fort, where she was touched by the warmth and enthusiasm of Filipino fans as she made her way to the Taguig venue to meet with notable talents and elements that exist in the Filipino basketball community, especially on the women's side.

In a panel with Gilas Youth head coach LA Tenorio, UAAP champion and Gilas Women member Camille Clarin, and former UAAP champion and current DLSU women's head coach Cholo Villanueva, the New York Liberty guard shared a little bit of insight on the sport that people can instantly relate with in real life:

“I think it’s crucial to learn how to prioritize and understand what’s really important to you and how to be the best basketball player you can be, how to never let the ball stop bouncing, but also understand that there’s so much more to you than just being a basketball player, that you must continue to grow.I think it’s also about being open-minded ..and doing what you enjoy..just being true to yourself.” 

Ionescu then visited the nearby Nike Courtyard at BGC, a 2,182-sq meter communal basketball court at the corner of 25th Street and 7th Avenue that caters to ballers who need a safe and inclusive place to play, year-round.

There, she led a skills camp with participants, including members of Her Hoops, witnessing how she honed her all-around and dynamic playing style that helped secure the Liberty their first-ever WNBA title.

The second day of her tour will highlight a launch of a local Nike Sabrina 2 collaboration, which will then be followed by a Show Her Love basketball showcase in the afternoon at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

At the hallowed venue, she will be playing alongside local basketball starts in a game.

Current professionals Rhenz Abando, Ricci Rivero, Dave Ildefonso, Paul Lee, and Japeth Aguilar, recent Nike signees Harold Alarcon and Kieffer Alas, as well as Gilas Women standouts Kacey dela Rosa, Camille Nolasco, Louna Ozar, and Afril Bernardino are set to join Ionescu in that exhibition.

In addition, the former WNBA 3-point champion will also test her marksmanship from deep against a field of local players.

Manila is the first stop of her inaugural international tour with Nike, as she heads to Guangzhou and Hong Kong later in the week.

Sabrina Ionescu set for Asia visit

WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu of New York Liberty, an Olympic gold medalist who still holds the record for most career triple doubles across the US NCAA, is coming to Manila.
 
She is a gamechanger, reinventing what’s possible for female athletes in life and sport. She’s a pioneer, creating space for girls to follow in her footsteps. And she’s a role model, inspiring the next generation to dream big, then do everything it takes to turn those dreams into reality.
 
Ahead of Sabrina’s campaign to defend her first WNBA title, she’s embarking on her first Asia tour, visiting China and the Philippines to share this message of empowerment with young hoopers and further introduce herself to the global basketball community.
 
“I’m excited to connect with basketball fans across Manila, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, especially young hoopers. You can feel their passion for the game, even from New York,” says Sabrina. “Together we will celebrate the game, and I hope we inspire each other to achieve our dreams with dedication, commitment and hard work.”
 
Sabrina will spend the first part of her tour in Manila, an international hoops hub with a longstanding connection to Nike Basketball. She starts off with a visit to Nike Fort in Bonifacio Global City on March 10 for a panel talk with fellow Nike athletes and coaches at 3 pm. The panel will talk about breaking barriers and defying stereotypes so hoopers can realize their dreams and inspire the next generation. During her stay, Sabrina will also lead a basketball clinic at The Courtyard, launch a Nike Sabrina 2 collaboration, and participate in an electrifying showcase with some of the Philippines’ best professional and collegiate players at the famed Araneta Coliseum.
 
At the historic Big Dome, Sabrina will get to experience up close how Pinoy hoopers play the game. She will take part in an exhibition game and do a 3-point shootout challenge on March 11 at 4 PM. Filipino basketball fans are invited to register at  https://www.nike.com/ph/basketball to witness and be part of the 2025 Sabrina Manila Tour: Craft the Future Showcase. Like Sabrina, female hoopers can break out of the mold, break barriers, achieve their dreams and inspire the next generation. Tickets to Craft the Future are FREE and will be available, first-come-first-served.
 
Sabrina will then continue to Guangzhou, China, where she will meet local athletes and visit some of their most hallowed courts — hosting a grassroots basketball camp for girls and sharing her messages of empowerment with female hoopers.
 
She will conclude her tour in Hong Kong, China, by getting a crash course in local hoops culture, experiencing street basketball in a local neighborhood and visiting two schools to help students learn to break through barriers in life and sport.

Check about.nike.com/stories next month for behind-the-scenes coverage of Nike signature athlete Sabrina Ionescu’s tour of Asia. Watch out for more details at nike.com and the Nike app for updates about the tour.