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Laker Girls Represent in the Philippines

If Jessica Elliot didn’t already know how globally popular the Laker Girls are, all she needed to do was look up during one of their performances in the Philippines this month.

Droves of fans jockeyed for a view of the Laker Girls’ routine during their stop at the Glorietta Activity Center during their six-day trip to Manila.

“When you looked up, hanging over the railing there were people on all five stories just excited about the players there, excited about the NBA being there and about the Laker Girls being there,” said Elliot, the Lakers Game Entertainment Manager. “So I think the coolest thing was just seeing how big (the NBA) is in the Philippines.”

Following the 12-hour flight to Manila, the Laker Girls spent the week as “ambassadors of the NBA,” performing at various venues, including at the NBA Fan Fest, which also featured appearances by Portland Trail Blazers Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews.

Laker Girls in Manila, Philippines

“We knew that, yes, there are a lot of fans (in the Philippines),” Elliot said. “And you know that there are Lakers fans worldwide. … There were a ton of people coming up, taking pictures with the girls or asking for photos with Lakers jerseys on and Lakers t-shirts. And I think until you see it, you don’t really realize it.”

While Elliot previously knew about the Philippines’ fervent love for basketball and the Lakers, she says that experiencing this passion firsthand was even more than she expected.

This already-massive popularity in the Philippines grew even larger when the Lakers drafted quarter-Filipino Jordan Clarkson, whose mother, Anette Davis, was born in Angeles City and is half Filipino.

“It’s a great feeling knowing I got the country behind me,” Clarkson said July 7. “It feels great. That’s also driving me, too; being one of the first (Filipino players).”

Laker Girls in Manila,Philippines

Like Clarkson, the Laker Girls embraced their connection with their Filipino fans. Between sightseeing and trying authentic Filipino food, the Laker Girls represented their team at events, such as the preview for Southeast Asia’s first NBA Store and a dance contest featuring the Philippine All Stars dance group.

“A lot of people don’t get a connection with the players, so (the Laker Girls) are kind of that arm to the community – that connection between the fans and the organization,” Elliot said. “And then going overseas in the Philippines, they don’t have NBA players and Laker Girls there all the time. So they definitely felt like ambassadors not only for the Lakers but for the whole NBA.”

To view the entire photo gallery, click here.