MANILA, Philippines—“Just to see the kids’ reaction did it for me,” says Washington Wizards’ point guard and adidas endorser Gilbert Arenas.

I’m sitting with him a few hours after he led the turnover rites of a basketball court to a Gawad Kalinga community.

“I heard that they recently went though strong flooding. I saw the damage the floods did to children and their families. But all I saw on their faces was happiness,” he says.

Twenty-six-year-old Arenas, also known in the league as “Agent Zero” and “Hibachi,” was in Manila for the adidas Agent Zero Tour 2008. He’s collaborated with the sporting brand for the Gil II Zero collection of shoes and clothing apparel.

The collection reflects themes related to brotherhood and core athletic values such as respect, passion, trust, sacrifice, and commitment.

A line inspired by Arenas’ own sport philosophy, the Gil Zero collection speaks volumes about his love of the game. It also incorporates his preference for cutting-edge and unique designs in vibrant and active colors.

Every shoe in the collection, Arenas says, has a story. “I came up with all the concepts. I picked out interesting tidbits from my personal life, my family, my career,” he says.

Energetic crowds

Aside from mall tours and the Gawad Kalinga community visit, Arenas made a special appearance at a UAAP Ateneo-La Salle game.

“That was pretty exciting. If this were the States, Ateneo and La Salle would be the meanest college teams, like Stanford and Duke. The crowds are the best. The energy was unbelievable. I was wowed,” he says.

Arenas spent some time with both teams in their respective dugouts to give them advice.

“I told them that playing basketball is the easiest thing,” he recalls. “The hardest part is playing together. Becoming a team is something that’s difficult.”

And what does he think about the Filipino fans? “Unbelievable,” he says in jest. “This country has warm people. The whole time, I was shocked, overwhelmed. I went to Trinoma and it was as if I was performing in a concert.”

Behind the zero

Now deemed one of the NBA’s best point guards, Arenas is known for his fierce competitiveness and “shoot-first pass-second” technique on the court. Lovers of the sport watch out for his slashing drives to the basket and long-range jump shots.

At 6 ft 4, he wears the number 0 jersey. Why zero? He explains that after he joined the University of Arizona, critics told him he’d play 0 minutes on court; hence, the moniker “Agent Zero.”

Arenas maintains a well-known blog on NBA.com. More than entertaining readers on court scoring and jersey tossing, his blog gives an inside look at his whirlwind life.

His witty and often biting commentary on events on and off the court attracts thousands of readers and fans. When asked where he gets his unique brand of wit, Arenas says, “I dunno, man. Since I was in high school, I’ve just always been the class clown, making people happy.”

Agent Zero Blog File is considered the top blog of any pro athlete today.

Student of the sport

Arenas was dead set on playing football and track and field as a kid. Basketball was an accident.

“I was really a late bloomer,” he recalls. “I started playing basketball at 11. My dad was coaching a team and I kept on insisting he let me play. But he wouldn’t budge. He was like, ‘Oh get out of here.’ Then one time, I went to one of his games and the opposing team lacked a player. I volunteered and competed against my dad’s. I scored 14 points. We beat them by a single point. It was my dad’s first ever loss. After that, I started playing for my age division and became the best one there.”

For someone who just strayed into the field, Arenas has proven himself to be a true child of the sport. He’s looking forward to continue touring the world and sharing his thoughts on what the game is really about.

“Basketball is everyone’s sport,” he says. “Everybody, at one point, has picked up a ball. It’s a game of life. Basketball makes you feel happy about life.”