The Letran junior stars, representing the Philippines, beat Thailand, 13-12, in the finals and earned the trip to Nike’s headquarters in nearby Beaverton. They will visit the Nike facilities all day tomorrow.
Tonight, the boys will watch a National Basketball Association (NBA) game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Toronto Raptors. They will sit in Nike’s VIP box.
The players are RonJay Enrile, 18, Billy Ray Anabo, 17, Boyet Bautista, 17, and Ira Buyco, 16. Their coach Elmer Latonio skipped the trip because of work commitments.
Accompanying the Letran Squires are the head of the Intramuros school’s media center Fr. Jose Sibug, Nike Philippines Sports marketing manager Auty Villarama, and Nike Philippines sports marketing coordinator Relly San Agustin.
This is the third visit by Filipinos, not employed by Nike, to the company’s World Campus. In 1996, a San Beda junior team went to Beaverton to compete in the Asian 3-on-3 tournament and the Hoop-It-Up competitions. The Red Cubs won the Asian crown and took second in the Hoop-It-Up. In 1998, Nike welcomed the Mobiline team of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to its offices.
Fr. Sibug said the trip is "a learning experience for the boys" all of whom are on their first trip abroad. Villarama, who has visited the Nike campus six times since joining the company in 1992, described the complex as "awesome and impressive." The campus grounds feature such amenities as the colorful flag courts, a still-water fountain, a seven-acre lake, a running trail, outdoor eating patios, extensive landscaping throughout, six office buildings linked by a covered arcade, an athletic club, a child-care center, and more. Each building is named after a famous athlete like Joan Benoit Samuelson, Steve Prefontaine, John McEnroe, and of course, Michael Jordan.
"This is basically an educational tour for the boys," said Villarama. "We will introduce them to the Nike culture and explain the Nike heritage." As a bonus, Villarama plans to take the boys to the Nike employees’ store where they will be given the privilege to shop with a 50 percent discount.
Employees are encouraged to report for work in shorts and sneakers. But it’s not likely the boys will see too many legs during their visit. Winter has set in and the temperature is plummeting. Luckily, the boys were forewarned. They came with thick jackets, thermal underwear, and knitted caps.
To most tourists, Portland is known as the City of Roses. To the boys on tour, it’s simply Nike territory.