For "Jump Man", hoop dreams begin on the streets

Jimmy Alapag, Philip "Hot Sauce" Champion, and "MoreFree" made handprints as a sign of friendship. Regi Valenzuela/Global Hoops

By Ivan Saldajeno

TAGUIG--For Doug Anderson, streetball is not about seeing the likes of him doing flashy anklebreakers and slam dunk exhibitions never before seen in a slam dunk contest with hip-hop music in the background.

In fact, he said that it is no different from the traditional basketball game and that the stories of many top cagers we know right now began when they took their first shots at their nearby street basketball courts.

The Court Kingz member known by the alias "Jump Man" said, "Streetball starts when your five, six, or seven years old. Streetball is for everybody. Streetball is not about we being out here doing it. We're doing streetball on a professional level. Streetball [in general] is your usual basketball played on the streets."

Anderson and the rest of Court Kingz are in the Philippines for a special basketball game called "Global Hoops" on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

As part of their promotion, both foreign sides went to the Tenement Court on Thursday for an open streetball session which included a meet-and-greet session, some dunking exhibitions and some 3-on-3 streetball action.

The American-based Court Kingz and Chinese club RZP will take on a Philippine team led by former Gilas skipper Jimmy Alapag.

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