Rockets star Harden thrilled on PHL return

MANILA, Philippines -- Houston Rockets star James Harden is looking forward to another great experience against Gilas Pilipinas in the PLDTHome: The Last Home Stand All-Star Charity Games on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Harden is the only remnant of the 2011 NBA selection that played against the country's national team and a PBA All-Star team.

"The one thing that I remember from that [2011] is they [Gilas] have a pretty good skills set. They play good basketball and got good ball movement," Harden recalled during the press conference on Monday afternoon at the NBA Cafe Manila.

Harden was still Oklahoma Thunder's sixth man at that time.  He joined superstars Kobe Bryant, former teammate Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Derek Fisher, Tyreke Evans, Javale McGee and Derrick Williams.

Three years after, he's returning as a bona fide NBA superstar, being the Rockets' go-to-guy.

This is already Harden's fourth time here in Manila. Last year, his Rockets played a pre-season game against the Indiana Pacers at Mall of Asia Arena and earlier  graced the NBA 3X event. 

"The fans here are crazy in basketball and in sports in general," said Harden on why he keeps returning to Manila. 

Harden will banner the PLDT Home Fibr All Stars that also boasts of NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, former Slam Dunk champion Blake Griffin, Terrence Ross, DeMar DeRozan, Paul George,  Kyle Lowry, Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard, Nick Johnson, Ed Davis, Brandon Jennings and Tyson Chandler.

The NBA selection will be handled by reknowned skills camp coach John Lucas, who promised to give the Philippine men's national team a good workout ahead of the FIBA World Cup in Spain at the end of next month.

"It's going to be a big help playing against these athletically gifted guys. It's a big opportunity for us," said Gilas coach Chot Reyes, who helped assemble the selection.

More than the experience and the scrimmages against the NBA stars, Reyes impressed on the people that this is a charity event for the benefit of Philippine Disaster Recovery Fund, Caritas Manila and MVP Sports Foundation.

The two-day event will also serve as a birthday treat to all Filipino basketball fans by the country's biggest sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan, who turned 68 last week.

Aside from the pair of exhibition matches, the two-day event will also feature a skills camp to be supervised by Lucas, three-point shootout and slam dunk competition.