Lin: ‘Filipino fanbase is unreal’

Jeremy Lin was no stranger to the Filipinos’ passion for basketball but the enthusiasm of the fans towards the sport has always amazed the former NBA star.

Lin, who first came to Manila during an NBA pre-season game a decade ago, was impressed with the fans’ warm welcome when his New Taipei Kings played and defeated Meralco Bolts in their East Asia Super League match at the PhilSports Arena.

Filipino “Linsanity” fans trooped to the venue hoping to get their Jeremy Lin jerseys, NBA cards and other merchandise to be signed by the nine-year NBA veteran.

“I came out here, I think it’s 2013, I played one preseason game. And right after that, we went to Taipei for the next preseason game. People asked me how the experience was. And honestly, it was pretty crazy. The fanbase is unreal,” recalled Lin who was still then playing for the Houston Rockets when they played the Indiana Pacers at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s a different experience. When I came here in 2013, it was with the NBA, it’s the Rockets and the Pacers. We are talking about a whole different level. I mean that thing, we literally couldn’t barely walk in the lobby of our hotel. I remember we went to (Mall of Asia), there were hundreds of people following us,” he added.

While the situation from back then was entirely different as it was when they played against the Bolts, Lin definitely felt the same enthusiasm and energy from the Filipino fans who cheered for him even when he was up against the home team.

“Obviously, it was a different level of production, marketing, and awareness. But you just feel the enthusiasm everywhere even with the interactions, one-on-one, one-on-two, you feel that deep passion for basketball. You feel it everywhere you go,” said Lin.

The 35-year-old guard made sure to repay the love from the fans by treating them to a splendid game that saw him finish with 23 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. He also fueled the huge third quarter run, knocking down two long bombs from way beyond the three-point line much to the delight of the good-sized crowd inside the venue.

Lin took time to interact with his fans after the contest even giving away his signed and game-worn shoes and jersey.