Dylan Harper's mom Maria talks about how Filipino values shaped their family

While the Philippines is still waiting for its first homegrown player in the NBA, there are a few who carry the Filipino heritage in the league.

Just weeks ago, Dylan Harper joined Jalen Green and Jordan Clarkson in that exclusive club — all of them boasting the accomplishment of being drafted in the NBA. 

Harper was picked second overall in this year’s draft, just like Green who was also selected second in 2021. Clarkson, meanwhile, was the 46th overall pick in 2014.

Compared to Clarkson and Green, however, Dylan hasn’t quite established his connection with the Philippines yet as he has not yet visited the country.

Clarkson has played for Gilas Pilipinas as a naturalized player in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2023 FIBA World Cup, while Green has been to the Philippines twice to participate in the NBTC tournament, even before getting drafted. He also visited in 2022 for a global sporting brand.

This doesn’t mean, though, that the Rutgers standout is not in touch with his Filipino side. 

According to Dylan’s mom Maria, the 19-year old player grew up in a Filipino household and is very much familiar with its customs and traditions.

After all, Maria, who is a Filipino, has been a huge part of her kids’ journey inside and outside of basketball.

 

 

 

 

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“We are very in touch with our Filipino side. My mom, my dad, and my three sisters have been a really big part of my children’s lives. We have Filipino traditions,” Maria shared after attending Dylan’s first game in the NBA Summer League.

Maria, who hails from Bataan, is the daughter of Manuel and Lillia Pizarro. Their family moved to the United States when she was just seven years old.

“I do have very vivid memories of holidays such as Christmas, which was my favorite holiday. Doing Christmas in the Philippines is nothing like it. It’s like a whole month festivity. We try to make Christmas in our house as big as possible. With all of the regalos, all of the food and such,” she shared.

While Maria’s memories of Christmas in the Philippines suggests her strong affinity on the Filipino side, the deep bond of her family also reflects Filipino values.

In fact, even Dylan's basketball journey has been influenced by his love for family.

“We kinda switched to the traditional Filipino stuff. Going to church for Sunday, going to lola for Sunday dinner, also the things that we want to do for our kids. We made a really big imprint on all three of my children, Ronald, Dylan, and Mia,” she said.

“We’re so close. Dylan also went to school at Rutgers, where Ronald also went. When he chose it, it was really about the people and really reppin’ for the state of New Jersey and showing people you could do it at home, and still be successful. Anytime either boys have some time off, they always come home to visit mom and Mia and it’s our favorite thing to do.”

That bond which is present in most Filipino families is also evident as the Harpers cheered for Dylan in the NBA Summer League.

“We’re all out here in Las Vegas to support Dylan. And we also promised each other for our favorite holiday, Christmas, that whoever can’t come home, we were going to bring the whole band wherever they were,” Maria continued.

Having Filipino heritage is often enough for a player to get a passionate following from fans in the Philippines, but knowing that one is immersed in the culture — without even setting foot in the country — could take that support to another level.

And a visit could seal just that.

“I know that basketball is a big sport in the Philippines. And to all the Filipino basketball fans, of the NBA here in the States and of the Harper boys, we’re looking forward to visiting you guys next summer,” Maria revealed.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News