For someone who has trained with the likes of Jaylen Brown and Dwight Howard, Chris Matthews did not hesitate to heap praises on the Philippines, calling it the “mecca of basketball” during his visit to Manila.

The renowned skills trainer and Red Bull athlete, popularly known as “Lethal Shooter,” lauded the country’s deep love for the game during the refurbishment of the Tenement Court in Taguig on Thursday, Jan. 29.

To thrill his fans, Matthews made a basket from the tenement rooftop, drawing cheers from the crowd and underscoring his shot-making skills.

Known for his expertise in developing elite shooters, Matthews has worked with some of the NBA’s top talents and is recognized globally for his skills training. His visit to Manila brought him directly to the heart of local basketball, where he engaged with players and fans.

“I live in America, but I feel like the love here is truly different. To me, this is like the mecca of basketball around the world,” said Matthews.

“If you’re a content creator, a pro basketball player, or somebody who loves the game, and you haven’t visited the Philippines, that’s a problem. This is a must-stop place if you love basketball,” he added.

Beyond praising Philippine hoops, Matthews encouraged aspiring players to focus on what they can control, reminding them that heart and determination matter more than size.

“Height has nothing over heart. I hear a lot of people say Filipinos are small, but who cares? Manny Pacquiao is small, and he’s the best boxer of all time. It doesn’t matter what your height is—if you have heart, nobody can stop you,” he said.

“The biggest thing to do if you don’t have that certain type of height is to do certain types of things. If you’re a little bit small, you should know all the types of things around the goal, like Kyrie Irving. Master your game.”

Speaking to the possibility of a Filipino player reaching the NBA, Matthews said the path is not impossible.

“To me, I don’t think that’s impossible. The clips I have seen online, I feel like there’s a lot of great Filipino players, and I feel like it's an awesome league here,” the Red Bull athlete said.

He also offered a message for young players:

“Just play the game every single day. If you’re young and you love basketball, don’t allow anybody to tell you you can’t do something about it. You’re going to fail—everybody fails—but giving up is never an option. I understand it now.”