Reinforcements like Rakocevic will get another call-up here, for sure.
To say that Magnolia Hotshots import Nick Rakocevic’s experience in the Philippines was unforgettable is an understatement.
In the teaser of an upcoming episode of the Rotation podcast, the do-it-all reinforcement bared how he was revered by Filipino fans during his stay here last year.
“It never really got annoying to me because these people they look at you, like, how they look at real life, like they idolize you,” he said.
“The big thing to say like out in the Philippines, in Manila is when they look up to somebody, they’ll call you idol. So like everybody was saying idol to me like it was crazy.”
And while “idol” is a common term among Filipino ballers and fans alike, his popularity cannot be denied since he is also playing for one of the most beloved teams in a basketball-crazy nation.
“When I’m saying it’s everywhere, it’s everywhere. Like people who worked at my hotel, grown ass men, dudes like 10, 20 years older than me coming up to me and being like, ‘Yo, you’re my idol, can I have a picture with you? Can you give me a piece of clothing, shoes? Anything,” he said.
To sum up the fan experience, the USC product said: “Nobody has ever looked at me like this in my entire career.”
Unfortunately, the Hotshots fell to eventual champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
But reinforcements of his caliber will most likely get another call-up in the PBA. Fans will see their "idol" back soon.