Gabe Norwood on what makes Filipino basketball players unique

Fil-American Gabe Norwood knows a thing or two about what set Philippine basketball apart from the rest of the world.

He grew up playing ball in the United States, before going pro here in the Philippines, where he's been based for more than a decade.

During that time, he's also had the opportunity to travel the world and go head-to-head with other countries' finest players as part of the Gilas Pilipiinas national team.

And after everything he's seen, Norwood believes there is just something unique about the way Pinoys play the game.

"I think it's exactly those words. I think, unique. I think unique is the word," Norwood said on "The Howie Severino Podcast."

He said that countries influenced by the European style of play are usually more structured and focus on execution. But the fast-paced, guard-oriented play of the Philippines allows for the players’ passion to shine through.

"Just the speed, the creativity, the flash. You know, I think it's unique in itself in a style that you see [it] while driving down the street. You could be here in Metro Manila, you could go to the province, you can be anywhere, " Norwood said.

“The game is everywhere and just to see how guys are able to just really use their God-given talent in certain ways and not be held in kind of a shell, they're able to express themselves to the game. I think that's the beauty of Filipino basketball. "

For the Rain or Shine veteran, the level of appreciation that fans have for the game of basketball is also a big part of what makes it great.

"I think anytime you talk to an NBA guy and if they've come over, imports that have come over, Fil-Ams that have come over, they love it here. Just for the respect for the game, the knowledge of the game, the fans and media," he added.

"There's people who like it, just speaking from my experience traveling with Gilas and kind of that international feel for the game."

Norwood has been in the Philippines since 2008 and has been a part of the Gilas Pilipinas national men's basketball team for many tournaments, including the 2014 and 2019 editions of the FIBA World Cup. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News