ROBERT Herndon, Filipino-American and former San Francisco State University NCAA Division II player, became the first winner of the Red Bull King of the Rock-National One-on-One Basketball finals.
Herndon prevailed in his face off with PBA MVP alumnus Willie Miller in an epic five-minute finals showdown last Saturday at the Baluarte de Dilao inside the ancient walls of Intramuros, Manila.
The 22-year-old Herndon’s two clutch three pointers in the final minute sealed the win, giving him the first title honors with a score of 21–19.
“I figured I made it this far and that it would suck to lose. Willie Miller was a good opponent. And it feels awesome to represent the Philippines like this,” said Herndon.
He will become the first-ever Philippine representative to compete at the Red Bull King of the Rock World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in August 2016.
Herndon said he hopes to beat top players from more than 60 countries at the world’s largest and most prestigious one-on-one basketball competition later this year.
In a separate slam-dunk competition, Nigerian native Obinna Ezeike reigned supreme with his high-flying skills and crowd-rousing showmanship.
The Red Bull King of the Rock is the world’s most prestigious one-on-one street basketball tournament.
After a series of qualifying events taking place around the world, the best and toughest finalists (Kings and Queens) face off to determine the new champion.
The tournament follows a straightforward concept, where players battle head-to-head in raw outdoor basketball, using a single-elimination tournament bracket.