WNBA star Ionescu captivates Filipina players, artists, dreamers in PH visit

In a loaded 4-day visit to the Philippines, WNBA and New York Liberty sensation Sabrina Ionescu inspires women both on and off the court to unlock their full potential wherever their passions lie

BULACAN, Philippines – In an appropriate celebration of International Women’s Month, one of the biggest WNBA stars came to the country to inspire female basketball fans.

Throughout her four days in the Philippines, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu captivated thousands of fans in this hoop-crazed country, which sees through gender in celebrating the sport.

Aside from fan interaction, Ionescu got to teach the next generation of women basketball players, as well as collaborate with several Filipina artists in putting into reality their respective interpretations to sneakers and basketball courts.

It is Ionescu’s second visit to the country, the first as an unheralded USA Basketball player representing the United States in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup held at the Philippine Arena in 2018.

Homegrown experience

In coordination with local basketball concept store TITAN, three Filipina visual artists designed a unique colorway of Ionescu’s new sneaker dubbed Nike Sabrina 2 X TITAN and was released this month.

Designed by Aila Torre, Lari Gazmen, and Alex Papa, the purple-colored shoe paid homage to TITAN’s Show Her Love Tournament and Ionescu’s growing legacy with the Liberty.

“We wanted to speak about how it’s really important to accommodate and make space for women, not just in basketball, but in all walks of life,” Gazmen said during the launch event at Balmori Tent in Makati.

“Each of us coming from different backgrounds, we had different interpretations of it. But what was cool about it was, as one was explaining her own, there was an overlap because we realized that there’s a shared experience about this whole entire process and about being a woman and womanhood in itself,” explained Torre.

“I think the whole idea of it is it’s stronger when it’s shared. So, the messaging that we also wanted to convey is uplift others in the way that how you want to be uplifted as well.”

Being from various places in the Philippines, Papa relayed that it was a combination of their everyday experience but remained uniquely Filipino.

“We’re incredibly honored that we get to share the stage with Sabrina one-on-one, and you know just the feeling we’re having that opportunity to have her beside us.”

Putting theory into practice

Inside the Sacred Heart Academy campus in Santa Maria town here, Manila-based illustrator and visual artist Jill Arteche designed two courts inspired by Ionescu’s resilience and dedication to the game.

The 5’11” guard had already whipped up an impressive resume—the NCAA’s leader in triple-doubles, regardless of gender, a WNBA champion, and an Olympic gold medalist—before reaching 30.

Specializing in whimsical artwork, Arteche said that the design was an invitation for young female athletes to take part in a male-dominated sport, break barriers, and defy stereotypes.

“We wanted to show young female athletes that they too, their potential, the endless possibilities that they have. And dream for themselves,” Arteche told reporters.

On the outdoor court features shattered glass, which represents break molds and dismantling barriers; arms extending beyond the court which represents asserting presence; and shooting stars, which symbolizes limitless possibilities.

For the indoor court, the design features shooting motion, the sky, birds, and doors, which means choosing, pursuing, and realizing one’s dream.

The court took about two months in conceptualizing with Arteche and Ionescu, as well as three weeks in painting the court.

Members of the Girls Got Game, a local nonprofit seeking to empower girls through sport, met Ionescu in the indoor court, and participated in a training camp, where the WNBA star taught shooting and dribbling.

“It’s making us feel to strive like Sabrina and be able to achieve things like what she has,” said 13-year-old LJ Makiraya.

“We want to someday be like Sabrina and compete in the WNBA.” – Rappler.com