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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Basketball pros promote American excellence in sports, deepen U.S.-Philippine ties

Basketball pros promote American excellence in sports, deepen U.S.-Philippine ties

Published Oct 1, 2025 05:58 pm

At A Glance

  • ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan -- American basketball pros Sam Vincent and Taj McWilliams-Franklin are visiting the Philippines to participate in a series of engagements that will showcase American excellence in basketball and empower young Filipino athletes and leaders as part of the U.S. Department of State's Sports Envoy Program. This initiative strengthens people-to-people ties between Filipinos and Americans through their shared love for sports, while inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Alaminos City Youth and Sports Development Office Head Cloyd Peter Lalas, from left, U.S. Embassy Deputy Director of Public Engagement George Mesthos, U.S. Sports Envoy Sam Vincent, Alaminos City Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste, U.S. Sports Envoy Taj McWilliams-Franklin, and a player and coach of the Brgy. Magsaysay basketball team at an inter-barangay basketball tournament at the Alaminos City Sports Complex on September 29.
Alaminos City Youth and Sports Development Office Head Cloyd Peter Lalas, from left, U.S. Embassy Deputy Director of Public Engagement George Mesthos, U.S. Sports Envoy Sam Vincent, Alaminos City Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste, U.S. Sports Envoy Taj McWilliams-Franklin, and a player and coach of the Brgy. Magsaysay basketball team at an inter-barangay basketball tournament at the Alaminos City Sports Complex on September 29.
ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan -- American basketball pros Sam Vincent and Taj McWilliams-Franklin are visiting the Philippines to participate in a series of engagements that will showcase American excellence in basketball and empower young Filipino athletes and leaders as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Sports Envoy Program. This initiative strengthens people-to-people ties between Filipinos and Americans through their shared love for sports, while inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Vincent is an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in 1986 while McWilliams-Franklin is a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock in 2008 and the Minnesota Lynx in 2011. Both players transitioned to coaching following their successful professional careers as players.
During their visit, Vincent and McWilliams-Franklin will lead basketball clinics and leadership seminars in Alaminos City in Pangasinan, organized in partnership with the local government.
The visiting U.S. Sports Envoys bring their professional and collegiate coaching experiences to train young athletes in basketball fundamentals while fostering the values of leadership, dedication, and teamwork that will help participants succeed in their professional lives.
The visit underscores a love of basketball in the United States and the Philippines—one of many facets of the people-to-people ties that form the bedrock of the U.S.-Philippines bilateral relationship.
“Basketball has long been a shared passion between Americans and Filipinos. Through the U.S. Sports Envoys program in the Philippines, we celebrate that connection while also empowering young people with the leadership, dedication, and teamwork skills that sports uniquely provide,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Y. Robert Ewing.
The U.S. Department of State’s Sports Envoy Program sends passionate, inspirational professional athletes to engage communities across the world. The program promotes people-to-people ties and empowers the next generation of athletes as leaders through sport. Since its launch in 2005, more than 300 envoys representing 24 different sports have traveled on behalf of the U.S. government to deliver impactful programs and strengthen bilateral relations.
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