This Bird can fly

MANILA, Philippines — Jabari Bird is Magnolia’s fourth import in the PBA Governors Cup after Glenn Robinson III, Shabazz Muhammad and Rayvonte Rice. From what he displayed in his debut against Rain or Shine in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, last Friday, Bird is here to stay.

Bird, 30, flew in the day before his first game. He had an evening shootaround, impressing the Hotshots coaching staff by knocking down 27 of 30 triples or so a team insider claimed. No five-on-five scrimmage. Coach Chito Victolero didn’t know if he could adjust to Magnolia’s system right away. When the game got going the next day, Bird fit in smoothly. He compiled 22 points, 13 rebounds and two assists in 28:04 minutes on a +32 efficiency as the Hotshots crushed the Elasto Painters, 121-69, to tie their best-of-five quarterfinal series at a win apiece. Victolero said Bird’s positive aura rubbed off on the Hotshots.

Bird’s father Carl played for Royal Tru-Orange in the PBA in 1976, averaging 45.3 points in 27 games with a single-game high of 73. “I didn’t believe what my dad told me he did until PBA fans confirmed it,” he said with a smile. “My dad often talks about the Philippines and I wish I could’ve played here sooner.”

Bird ended his campaign in the Indonesian league last July, went back to California then returned to Jakarta to visit his girlfriend before coming to Manila. He played for the University of California at Berkeley like his father and was Boston’s second round pick in the 2017 NBA draft. Bird played 13 games for the Celtics. His teammates included Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

“I try to mold my game after my dad,” said Bird, quoted by Fred Katz in MassLive.com. “He was also a wing-type player who can shoot the ball. When we played in the backyard, he gave me lots of tips and pointers.” Family was always a priority with Bird. His grandfather gave him a pair of Air Jordans when he was four and used to sleep with the shoes on. His mother Tonya and sister Kamilah are a big part of his support group. Now, Bird is living his dream playing where his father once starred.