NBA player Scotty Pippen Jr. interacts with fans during an event in Manila, Philippines. –LANCE AGCAOILI/INQUIREr.net
MANILA, Philippines—Scotty Pippen Jr. relished his visit to Manila, meeting members of the Filipino basketball community, including PBA star Scottie Thompson, who was named after his father.
The Memphis Grizzlies guard met the Barangay Ginebra standout during an NBA-backed event on Thursday at SM Megamall.
“Yeah, definitely cool. Cool dude. Super completed player,” Pippen said.
“Just hearing all of the accolades he has is unquestionably surreal and crazy to see what he’s done here.”
WATCH: Scotty Pippen Jr. on his visit to the Philippines, his father Scottie, and Memphis’ upcoming NBA season. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/nYP6aB1hAI
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Beyond learning about Thompson’s accomplishments, Pippen was amused to seek out out the Gilas Pilipinas guard was named after his father.
“I feel it’s also super crazy that he was named after my dad and we’re each here years later. So I feel it was super cool to fulfill someone like that,” Pippen said.
Pippen also recalled his time at Vanderbilt, where he teamed up with former University of the Philippines center Quentin Millora-Brown.
“Me and him played two years together. My third 12 months, he was a redshirt, but really good dude. That’s my guy. I used to be at all times a tough employee. I used to be a sensible player, so he’s still my guy,” he said.
Before returning for an NBA season during which he is anticipated to tackle a much bigger role with the rebuilding Grizzlies, Pippen said he appreciated experiencing the Philippines’ passion for basketball.
“I’d say just seeing little kids playing outside on the road after I was driving in and just being around my hotel, just seeing how the fans all knew me and just seeing how they’d basketball on all of the TVs. So I’ve definitely been capable of see how big basketball here is within the Philippines,” he said.