Third Splash Brother: Delos Reyes shines in the Filipino leagues
By GABRIEL MARTINEZ
The Tower
Despite his timid manner, and often shying away from spotlight, Adam Gabriel Delos Reyes expresses himself freely on the basketball court.
Two days a week, Delos Reyes chooses to take his skill to a recreational Filipino basketball league in Stockton, which hosts pickup games every Tuesday and league games every Saturday.
What is stopping Delos Reyes from playing for the boys’ basketball team here at Manteca High? Delos Reyes loves the game of basketball, as he grew up watching players like Stephen Curry drain 3-pointers from 30 feet out, but his timidness may keep him off the high school court.
When on the court, Delos Reyes likes to style his game after Curry. As a player, Curry shoots the 3-point shot as well as anyone in NBA history, and even when he does not, he never gives up and keeps shooting the ball.
On Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings in a musty gym in Stockton, Delos Reyes is the third Splash Brother, a 5-foot-7 Filipino-American sniper.
Although Delos Reyes is not the most outspoken person, he is knowledgeable about basketball and enjoys talking about basketball, the Golden State Warriors, and Stephen Curry.
When playing in the Filipino league, Delos Reyes finds a sense of comfortability and familiarity in playing the game he loves with people he knows well.
“I’ve known Adam since freshman year, and he turned out to be an amazing guy, he is always willing to help me out for whatever reason,” said classmate Fouad Alhashwa, a sophomore.
This week, The Tower had a chance to interview Delos Reyes about where he and his love for basketball come from, playing in a recreational league, and the possibility of fighting for a spot on the boys’ basketball roster.
The Tower: Where are you from?
Adam Delos Reyes: I’m from the Philippines.
TT: How long did you live in the Philippines?
ADR: I’ll say about nine years.
TT: How many siblings do you have?
ADR: I have two.
TT: Did your siblings help you find your love for basketball?
ADR: Yes, my brother Ivan helped me find my love for basketball.
TT: Are you playing in any recreational leagues?
ADR: I play in a Filipino league.
TT: Can you describe the challenges of playing in a recreational league like that?
ADR: Injuries for sure, and not having enough confidence.
TT: Which basketball player do you look up to and why?
ADR: Stephen Curry, because of how he shoots the ball and how he never gives up
TT: Have you considered trying out for the boys’ basketball team?
ADR: No, because I don’t have much confidence
TT: What do you want to do when you are older?
ADR: Civil engineering because it has been my dream job since I was a kid.