Kiatipis, de Liaño clash in friendly duel

Filipino basketball fans got a taste of one-on-one basketball action as SportsPlus hosted an event featuring content creator Matt “MK” Kiatipis last Wednesday at the SportsPlus Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong City.

Held in partnership with Serious Player Only, the event drew hundreds of fans eager to see Kiatipis take on familiar local basketball personalities, including reigning Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League slam dunk champion Joe Gomez de Liaño and basketball impersonators Stepping Curry and Lebwrong James.

Known for his brash on-court personality and aggressive style, Kiatipis brought his competitive brand to the venue, letting fans see 1v1 basketball’s growing appeal up close.

“Every place is electric nowadays, but I was very surprised by Asia. We have been to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and now the Philippines, all of them. Asia is just so passionate about basketball. They love it,” said Kiatipis, who has more than nine million followers on social media.

“I was not expecting this many people to show up, this many people to be excited, this culture to be so deep; it is an amazing surprise. So much passion and so much skill.”

“The Philippines, they love basketball, and I love basketball, but I got to love it as much as them.”

Beyond the on-court action, SportsPlus treated attendees to merchandise giveaways, adding to the interactive experience.

For Gomez de Liaño, initiatives like these offer an opportunity to bring basketball enthusiasts together and build stronger connections within the local basketball community.

“It was very nice putting the community together; it is good for the crowd. They loved watching it. SportsPlus, keep continuing to grow and have more events. You guys are doing well, and for MK, keep up your vlogging. It is a hit everywhere in the world,” Gomez de Liaño said.