The Indiana Pacers’ breakout superstar Paul George will return to the Philippines as he adds to an already star-studded lineup against Gilas Pilipinas in the Last HOME Stand on July 22 and 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 10th overall pick in the 2010 draft stands 6’9” and holds various accolades such as being in the 2011 All-Rookie Second Team, 2013 Most Improved Player, and being an NBA all-star the last two seasons. He averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 dimes per game last regular season. George tallied a slightly better 22.2 buckets, 7.6 boards, and 3.9 assists per game for the 2014 NBA playoffs.
Joining George in the Last HOME stand will be fellow NBA superstars Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard and Paul Pierce, along with elite basketball skills development coach, John Lucas II. Gilas Pilipinas players will compete with them in a slam dunk contest, three-point shootout, a basketball clinic, and of course, a crowd-drawing pickup game showcasing the best basketball players in the world.
“This is a fitting send-off for Gilas as they defend the Philippine flag at the 2014 FIBA World Cup. This is our grand comeback to the world stage, so having a special pick-up game with a powerhouse cast of players will definitely rally the spirits of Filipinos and inspire the boys to play harder,” Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes said.
“It is important for PLDT HOME to be represented in the world of sports as it continues to resonate with parallelisms to real life,” said PLDT executive vice president and head of Home Business Ariel P. Fermin. “As an illustration, the values of the game – togetherness, celebration, sacrifice are also true for a family that aspires to achieve a common ambition. Sports inspire family members to achieve more and move as one. And this is what we do for our national team, Gilas. We give them unwavering support from one home team to another to get as far.”
Fans who wish to be a part of this historic milestone will be ecstatic because tickets start at Php 750, an affordable amount for a world-class sporting event which will raise funds for the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF).
For more details, head onto the event page here.