The Golden State Warriors are one game away from winning their first NBA championship in 40 years.
The clinching game could come tonight in Cleveland, but it can’t be denied that Filipino Americans have been a huge part of the team’s success on its home court at Oracle Arena in Oakland where the Warriors have only lost four times all season.
Filipino American Franco Finn is the Warrior hype man who gets the fans into a frenzy at an arena affectionately known as Roaracle around the NBA.
The Warrior fans are regarded as the loudest in professional basketball, even during the team’s down years. Finn has been a big part of that for a dozen years.
Leading the Warrior Dance Team is another Filipino American, Sabrina Ellison.
Both Ellison and Finn talked to ABS CBN.
“The only Filipino hype man in the NBA, I try to bring that energy and channel it here and it’s a show,” said Finn.
Ellison is the Warrior Dance Team’s director with Patrisha, captain of the Dance Team, and Clarice also proud of their Filipino heritage.
“Going to family parties or singing karaoke and dancing, you just can’t help by being a Pinay getting into entertainment,” said Ellison.
Even the mom of MVP and Warrior leader Steph Curry acknowledged the large Filipino American fan base of the team.
You can hear her comments on that in the clip below.
Love this!