‘I’ve been waiting a long time for this:’ Dwyane Wade gets taste of PH basketball passion in electric fan fest

NBA legend Dwyane Wade with his fans during a fan fest, October 13, 2026 at the BGC Amphitheater. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA – NBA legend Dwyane Wade finally got a taste of the Philippines’ deep-rooted basketball culture as he met Filipino fans at a fan fest for his “TADHANA: Make Your Own Way Manila Tour” on Tuesday at the BGC Amphitheater.  

The three-time NBA champion was struck by the affection shown by fans and the electric crowd, comparing it to the atmosphere during NBA Finals games. 

“It feels like the NBA Finals. I feel like I’m about to play… I’ve been waiting a long time for this love y’all. And so, you just feel the energy man. Like I said, it’s the connection that we all share,” Wade said to chants of MVP from the audience. 

“It’s the connection that we all share for the love of basketball and we all have it. We all have the love of the sport. Thank you guys for giving the love back to me,” he added. 

Wade is glad to finally fulfill a promise to visit the Philippines, a country he knows has a huge fanbase not just for himself but for the Miami Heat franchise. 

“I’ve been able to connect with people from around the world that have believed in me and have asked me to come here for many, many years. And I promised I would. And it took the right moment. It took the right partnerships. It took the right time to do that,” he said. 

“And now that I’m here, I feel like this is the best time to be here. My appreciation for my career, you guys’ appreciation for my career, my appreciation for life and all the experiences that I’ve had. It’s at an all-time high. And so, I’m just thankful to be here at this time in my life to feel this love and give this love back to you guys,” Wade explained. 

Fans of NBA legend Dwyane Wade during a fan fest, October 13, 2026 at the BGC Amphitheater. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN NewsFor Filipinos, the chance to meet one of the game’s most celebrated players was a memorable moment — worth the hours’ long wait for some. 

“Big fan talaga ako ever since. Siya yung reason bakit ako naging Heat fan, so through ups and downs tinyaga ko talaga yung Heat fandom,” Gervi Maducdoc said. 

“Si Dwyane Wade talaga favorite player ko because of his moves, yung defense niya and very athletic and idol ko talaga si D-Wade,” he added. 

For artist Christian Cabanlig, he and his friends went to the fan fest to be able to show Wade their artwork which took five days to make. 

“Ginawa ko po siya five days tuloy-tuloy, ayun magdamag po. First championship niya ito kaya ito napili ko. Tapos may trophy kaya mas iconic siya. Ma-speechless ako pag makita ko siya,” he said. 

“Siyempre [favorite ko] yung kasama niya si LeBron. Yun yung mas ano sa akin, yung championship nila ni LeBron. Simula pagkabata po nanonood talaga ako sa mga laro niya,” Cabanlig said. 

The fan fest included 1-on-1 hoops action between PBA stars Ken Tuffin and JC Cullar, with Wade recreating the iconic “wings” moment he had with LeBron James. 

Wade and the fans present were also treated with an intense 3×3 basketball game by 10-11 year old players, some of whom had a shootout with the NBA legend himself. 

“I tell kids to just fall in love with the game. Play the game because you love playing the game, because you love competing, because you love playing it with someone else, right? Don’t play the game because it looks good on TV or the money that you can get or the lifestyle,” Wade said. 

The three-time NBA champion was given special gifts including a custom colorway of the Way of Wade shoe, a personalized cap and a charcoal painting. 

NBA legend Dwyane Wade with his fans during a fan fest, October 13, 2026 at the BGC Amphitheater. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News“It hasn’t sunk in yet because I only see D-Wade in NBA 2k and TV. Just three years ago, I began officially designing for Wade via Wade Legacy. And we never really interacted aside from my friend Dylan Myer. It doesn’t feel real,” Nukie Timtiman, the artist behind the cap said. 

“I feel like a kid again. I would definitely encourage whoever is watching this, you gotta stay disciplined and continue makng the right decisions in life. The future is bright if you do that, D-Wade inspired me to have that perspective,” he added. 

For Wade, the fan fest was an opportunity to experience firsthand the country’s unmistakable basketball culture and show the fans who he is beyond the sport.

 “I’m trying to show you all that I’m just so regularly doing. I’m just like you guys. I may have a couple inches. I may have longer arms. But ultimately, you know, I’m just a person who’s a part of the community growing up. I’m a person who’s a part of the community that was kind of left behind,” Wade said. 

“What I want you guys to understand is you can create the life that you want. You believe in a life that you want. And it may seem far-fetched. It may seem like it will never happen. But this day happens. This day comes. You prepare for it. Even if you don’t understand it, even if you don’t know what you’re prepared for, you prepare for it. So when that moment happens, you will be ready,” he added.