The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
LOS ANGELES Lakers superstar Austin Reaves has one advise to aspiring Filipino basketball players.
“You got to follow your dream. Pursue it. You can’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. If you don’t, one day you’ll come back and wish that you did,” said Reaves, who was formally introduced as the newest ambassador of Arena Plus in a press conference at the Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City last Saturday.
Reaves, the 26-year-old shooting guard from Newark, Arkansas, recalled his humble beginnings as an undrafted free agent taken in by the Lakers in 2021 to being one of Team USA’s most popular stars during the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila.
“I never thought in my life to get this far, being from a small town where not many people get the opportunity to do what I’m doing. Every day I wake up and try to cherish that. So to be able to be a brand ambassador for ArenaPlus is very special, not just for me but for all of us”
Reaves also said his first visit to the Philippines as a member of the star-studded, all-NBA American team during the FIBA World Cup was very special.
“I think being here (in Manila) 12 months ago was one of the most important things that boosted my confidence,” said Reaves, who earned the admiration of Filipino fans with his 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in eight games in the FIBA World Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“We love it here, Being able to, you know, kind of be an inspiration for all these kids out here is something that I will cherish and, you know, want to do. So I just want to say I appreciate every single one of you,” said Reaves, who is also considered as the “Justin Bieber” of basketball due to his immense popularity.
“Ever since we came last year, I remember going through the player introductions. You got guys in the (US) team like Anthony Edwards, one of the best players in the league, and Brandon Ingram. But my name was obviously the loudest, and it was very special for me.”
“So it really feels like home. I’ve been here before so it feels like home. The Filipinos are big sports fans. They know sports really well so partnering with Arena Plus is like connecting back with everybody.”
Arena Plus, for its part, welcomed the addition of Reaves and celebrated the partnership with various activities.
“Arena Plus, more than anything, places heavy importance on those who play and enjoy sports,” said Jasper Vicencio, president of Total Gamezone Xtreme.
“As much as we value creating memorable entertainment experiences, we also want to nourish our support to the athletes, especially those in the court,” added Vicencio, highlighting the core of ArenaPlus’ work and advocacy.
“We used to have such a small reach, but now we’re being acknowledged by these amazing people and we’re able to easily offer them the support they deserve,” Vicencio said.
“These partnerships are also milestones in our commitment to both elevating the quality of sports entertainment and standing alongside our athletes.”
Vicencio later addressed Reaves and his team, “To Austin and his team, I want to express my most heartfelt thanks. It truly does mean a lot to us that you’ve joined the ArenaPlus family. Having someone of your caliber among us is definitely a source of inspiration and pride, and will push us to do our best as well.”
Arena Plus also brought Reaves to the Kerry Sports Gym in Shangri-La the Fort for a fan meet called the “Courtside Takeover” in the afternoon.
Attendees included fans, online creators, and media partners.
ArenaPlus hosted three games to increase engagement with the attendees and maintain their excitement while they waited for Reaves to arrive.
The first game tested the trivia knowledge of event-goers, with the topics centered around Reaves and the Lakers.
The second game, called “Over or Under,” challenged 10 random guests to figure out which of the two Lakers players chosen by ArenaPlus had the higher point average
The last game was “Swing the Rock,” which featured five random players to shoot baskets into targets of varying sizes. Winners received gift certificates and prepaid load cards, while ArenaPlus merchandise was given out as consolation prizes.
A smaller segment was held after the games, where two fans with the best Lakers merchandise were selected.
Once Reaves joined the meet, selected fans were invited to take part in the Q&A portion to get to know ArenaPlus’ newest endorser even better. The questions centered around team preparations and his source of inspiration.
ArenaPlus then treated attendees with another game after the Q&A, this time with the participation of Reaves.
Dubbed the “Reaves Masterclass,” two or more players had to try and mimic basketball moves under Reaves’ instruction and coaching.
Reaves judged and scored each attendee with scorecards, with the highest scoring player named the winner.