One-on-one with Karl-Anthony Towns | Sports Desk - video Dailymotion

CNN Philippines

The Dominican Republic has officially advanced to the second round of the World Cup. A big reason for the team's success is the return of Karl-Anthony Towns. Let's have an all-out conversation about the World Cup, Dominican Republic and facing Gilas Pilipinas.   Joining Sports Desk anchor Andrei Felix is three-time NBA All-Star and Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dominican Republic big man Karl-Anthony Towns.  Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 (upbeat music)

00:02 - Welcome back to Sports Ask Only here

00:15 on CNN Philippines.

00:16 The Dominican Republic has officially advanced

00:19 to the second round of the World Cup

00:20 and a really big reason for the team's success

00:23 is the return of three-time NBA All-Star,

00:26 big man Carl "Anthony" Towns.

00:28 And right now, Cat and I are gonna have

00:31 an all-out conversation about the World Cup,

00:33 the Dominican Republic, and facing Gilas Filipinas.

00:35 How has his stay been so far?

00:37 Here he is, you can see live,

00:39 well, we have him from the hotel right now.

00:43 Three-time NBA All-Star, big man Minnesota Timberwolves,

00:47 Dominican Republic, center Carl "Anthony" Towns.

00:50 Cat, good evening, welcome to the show.

00:52 - Thank you for having me, appreciate it.

00:55 - Appreciate you, thank you for taking time.

00:58 First of all, I wanna ask you, how are you?

01:00 You've been here in the Philippines for a while now.

01:02 How are you enjoying your stay so far in the Philippines?

01:06 - Oh, it's been amazing, the country's been amazing.

01:11 They're so happy about basketball being here in the

01:15 Philippines, so the feeling is mutual.

01:17 I think the players feel the energy.

01:19 It's just an amazing time right now

01:22 for basketball here in the Philippines.

01:23 - Let's talk about your team, the Dominican Republic.

01:25 So far, so good, cruising in a group stage.

01:28 Congratulations to you, by the way, and the DR.

01:30 I saw the celebration after.

01:32 - Thank you, thank you, thank you.

01:33 - Great job in the group stages, in group A,

01:38 and qualifying for the second round, round of 16.

01:40 Talk to me, Cat, about the first round run.

01:42 You guys had Italy, you upset Italy, number 10 in the world.

01:47 You also beat the first, in your first game,

01:50 host nation, the Philippines, at home,

01:52 with thousands of fans watching.

01:55 How is it, man, just with this group stage

01:57 already out of the way and cruising, undefeated so far?

02:01 - It's been really fun, it's been really fun.

02:06 Like you said, it's been amazing games we've been able

02:09 to have so far in our group play.

02:11 To open up the World Cup against the home team

02:14 in the Philippines is definitely a challenge,

02:17 and to break the World Cup record for attendance as well

02:20 with that game, just like I said before,

02:22 shows just how much people here love basketball,

02:25 and the feeling is mutual.

02:27 I think that the energy in that building was amazing,

02:29 one of the best energies I've ever felt,

02:31 playing in a stadium.

02:32 Truly an honor to be here playing,

02:35 and for us, we're just taking it game by game,

02:38 having a lot of fun in the process,

02:39 and enjoying the time we have with each other.

02:42 - How special is this for you, Cat?

02:44 Like, this is your first time playing for the VR

02:46 in 10 years, and you immediately led the team

02:49 to the next round, round of 16.

02:51 How special is this for you?

02:52 - I mean, it means a lot, and I think for all of us,

02:57 we all are a big part of the success.

02:59 So, from everyone, from Andres Feliz, Eloy,

03:03 to everyone on the roster, we're doing this as a team,

03:06 we're doing this as brothers, so as a family.

03:08 So, for us to all have such a big part in the success

03:13 that we're having right now, I think it means a lot

03:15 for all of us to be able to make our country proud,

03:18 and to be able to do some special things.

03:20 - Let's go back to the first game, as much as it really

03:22 pains me, Cat, to talk about this, but we have to.

03:25 That first game against our very own Gila's Filipinas.

03:29 Are you aware that you said record-breaking attendance,

03:32 but seeing the crowd there, were you expecting,

03:36 we're gonna break the record here, 38,115 people

03:41 watch that game live at the Philippine Arena.

03:45 What was that like for you?

03:46 How was the energy in that arena?

03:48 I know you've played in the All-Star games, big games,

03:50 playoffs, in the NBA, but how was that like compared

03:53 to the other games you've played in the NBA?

03:55 - I mean, it was electric.

04:01 It's the only word that could fit that description

04:03 of that arena that day, it was electric.

04:06 I knew there was gonna be a lot of people,

04:07 World Cup, and the Filipinas, and then we have,

04:10 we have had the chance to play the Philippines there.

04:13 I knew it was gonna be electric,

04:15 and the fans didn't disappoint.

04:18 I knew that we were gonna have a game on our hands,

04:20 and I knew that for a team in a country that's so prideful,

04:24 I knew that we were gonna have a tough game,

04:25 and we were gonna need to dig deep

04:28 and be disciplined in that game,

04:30 and we found a way to get the job done.

04:31 - It was really a good game, back and forth.

04:33 There was even a time where Dominic would answer,

04:36 and then the Philippines would answer,

04:37 but as I said, watching that game, the stars showed out.

04:41 There's a reason you're a three-time NBA All-Star,

04:44 and former Sixth Man of the Year, Jordan Clarkson,

04:46 on the other end, you had 26 points, 10 boards.

04:49 Clarkson had 28.

04:51 How was that like, seeing JC,

04:54 'cause you've seen him play in the NBA,

04:57 and involving the pick and rolls, when you played a jazz.

05:01 How was that like?

05:02 Did you and JC have a conversation after?

05:04 - I thought it was great.

05:08 It was great to be able to compete against the best.

05:11 I think any time you get to compete against the best,

05:13 that's when it gets real fun.

05:14 So, obviously, JC is a special player,

05:18 and I think we all in the building knew that.

05:20 I think the world knows that.

05:22 It was really fun to be able to compete against him

05:24 at this stage, and also, it was really fun

05:26 to be able to see the best Filipino players in the world.

05:30 I was also excited to get a chance

05:32 to compete against Jun Mar,

05:33 and compete against some of the best big men

05:36 that Philippines has ever produced,

05:38 so I had a lot of fun with that game.

05:41 I'm super excited and happy, obviously,

05:43 that we came out with a W, but like I said,

05:46 it's always really fun when you get to compete

05:47 against the best in the world.

05:49 - Well, after Gilles, we mentioned earlier

05:50 that you then beat Italy, number 10 in the world.

05:54 Just last night, you defeated Angola.

05:56 Angola was pushing you guys.

05:58 That was also a good game, but you had three early fouls,

06:02 but you still got the win.

06:03 Tell us about the character of this team,

06:07 and how you guys were still able to lock in,

06:10 even with you on a bench, and what was it like

06:13 to celebrate with the fans, with some DR fans,

06:17 also inside the Coliseum?

06:18 - Yeah, I mean, it just shows how special this team is,

06:24 you know, how much that,

06:25 how blessed we are to be with each other in this locker room.

06:31 One through 12, all of us could get the job done.

06:35 I feel that we've been a team that's fought itself

06:37 to get to this point, starting all the way

06:40 when I wasn't there in Argentina.

06:42 This team has proven resilience day in and day out.

06:45 I'm just happy that I get to join this team

06:48 that's already shown the fight and the want

06:53 to be in the World Cup and to be in the Olympics,

06:55 and just be able to help my country out.

06:57 These guys are what makes it special.

06:59 It's not about me, it's not about the stats.

07:02 I've been very fortunate to put up because of them.

07:05 I'm just happy that I get a chance to go out there

07:08 and help them win the games,

07:10 and just be a piece of the puzzle.

07:13 Not the whole puzzle, but just a piece of the puzzle

07:14 of the reason why we've been fighting success.

07:17 - Well, so far, great averages for you in three games.

07:20 19.3 points per game, 7.7 boards a game,

07:24 two assists, and almost a block per game in three games.

07:28 You're, by the way, the team leader

07:29 in points and rebounds for the DR.

07:32 Well, Captain, the second round

07:33 will begin already this Friday.

07:34 You could either face Serbia or Puerto Rico.

07:38 What are your thoughts about those two teams?

07:39 And if given a chance to choose, Cat,

07:41 I'm gonna put you on the hot seat here.

07:43 Who would you rather play in the next round?

07:46 Serbia, Puerto Rico, and what do you think?

07:50 - I think it doesn't matter.

07:53 I think that we have to be ready

07:55 for whoever the opponent may be.

07:57 We gotta go out there, like I said, this is the fun part.

07:59 You get to come to the World Cup

08:01 and compete against the best of the best,

08:02 the best players from all parts of the world.

08:04 We just gotta be ready for whoever the opponent is.

08:09 And at the end of the day, too,

08:10 we gotta be ready to be the best version

08:11 of ourselves that day as well.

08:12 So this is where it gets fun.

08:14 It's always been fun since we stepped here in the Philippines.

08:18 We've been honored and blessed

08:20 to have a chance to play against the best,

08:21 and it only continues on Friday.

08:24 - Have you also spoken with your teammate in Minnesota,

08:28 Ant-Man, Anthony Edwards?

08:29 He's been trending with Austin, your team,

08:32 and also cheering the fan at the line.

08:36 Have you messaged or talked to Ant?

08:39 - Of course, of course.

08:43 I'm always talking to my teammates.

08:44 I've been talking to Ant a bunch, even off camera,

08:47 right before we started, I was talking to him.

08:49 So he's doing well.

08:51 I love seeing him succeed.

08:53 Also cheering on for all my fellow Timberwolves out there

08:56 and Nikhil, I'm watching Kyle right now play off screen.

09:01 So I'm really excited, you know,

09:03 the chance that our team has really just--

09:07 - Yeah, go ahead.

09:08 - Just love this moment,

09:11 love this moment playing in the World Cup.

09:13 - Well, okay, two more questions

09:14 before I get your message to Filipino basketball fans, Kat.

09:17 You got the chance to meet with Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao.

09:22 Even the Italy coach wanted to meet him.

09:25 Everybody wants to meet Pac-Man.

09:27 How was that like meeting Pac-Man?

09:29 And did he invite you to play pick a ball?

09:31 I don't know if you know, but he's a shooter, unorthodox,

09:34 but he's a good shooter too.

09:35 - Nah, for sure.

09:37 Nah, for sure.

09:39 I've known Pac-Man for a minute.

09:43 I was with him in his training camp

09:45 when he was getting ready to fight.

09:47 It was Errol Spence, then Errol Spence dropped out,

09:49 so then it became Mugaz.

09:51 I was very fortunate to meet him there,

09:53 watch him spar, see him train, see what makes him great.

09:57 And it's been years from then,

10:00 and now we got to this moment where I got to,

10:02 we got to reconnect and catch up and meet his family

10:06 and get to spend time with him.

10:08 So it was really fun to be there.

10:10 It was really fun to catch up.

10:13 We had some great conversations.

10:14 Yes, we did talk about his basketball skill

10:16 and the amazing games he's been playing right now recently.

10:20 So he's a legend.

10:23 He's not only a legend in Filipino sports,

10:25 he's a legend in all sports.

10:27 He's the one and only Manny Pacquiao.

10:29 - Well, I want to get your message, Cat.

10:31 Again, thank you for your time being here on SportsS,

10:33 live on CNN Philippines.

10:35 What do you want to tell all the Filipino fans?

10:36 I see you enjoying fist bumping Filipino fans,

10:40 and they're loving you as well.

10:41 What do you want to tell them?

10:43 - Salamat to everyone in Filipino and Philippines

10:48 for blessing us with this opportunity

10:50 to come to your homeland

10:51 and being so gracious host to us.

10:54 You guys didn't have to do that.

10:55 And for you guys, for everyone to just welcome us

10:58 into your culture so welcoming is truly a blessing

11:02 and it's not taken lightly.

11:04 So thank you to all the fans in the Philippines

11:07 who have made us so comfortable here,

11:09 who have truly enjoyed the game of basketball

11:12 and showing us your appreciation for the game of basketball,

11:15 not just for your team,

11:17 which you have all right to celebrate just your team,

11:20 but to celebrate the game of basketball

11:21 the way I have is truly special.

11:23 It's humbling.

11:25 It makes me want to work harder as a basketball player.

11:28 I've always said this place is very special.

11:31 I've never been here before,

11:32 but I could just feel the energy

11:34 and the passion for basketball here.

11:36 I've always wanted to come here.

11:37 So thank you for being such a gracious host to all of us.

11:40 Thank you so much and (speaks in foreign language)

11:42 - Well, (speaks in foreign language)

11:44 Thank you so much, Cat, for being on the show.

11:46 Hope to see you again and talk to you.

11:48 - Thank you, I have your basketball card here with me, man.

11:50 But thank you so much, Cat.

11:52 Keep on rolling.

11:53 The best of luck to the DR.

11:54 Thank you, Cat.

11:55 - I appreciate it, thank you.

11:57 - Again, we just spoke to-

11:58 - Thank you, thank you so much.

11:58 - Thank you, man.

11:59 Appreciate you.

12:00 That was the Dominican Republic big man

12:03 and three-time NBA All-Star

12:04 from the Minnesota Timberwolves,

12:05 one and only Carl Anthony Towns.

One-on-one with Karl-Anthony Towns | Sports Desk

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