Hoops & Heritage | Filipino Canadian Basketball Player Matthew Wright’s Global Journey
From playing on the courts of Canada to conquering arenas across the globe, Matthew Wright has come a long way since the start of pursuing his passion for basketball. The game has taken him to places he never imagined he’d be. Through the ups and downs that come with chasing one's dreams, Matthew continues to rise.
Matthew grew up in Canada in a loving family that celebrated their culture. With Tagalog and Ilocano frequently spoken and fresh Filipino food always cooked, identifying with his Pinoy roots was smooth and easy. “There was a pretty big Filipino population there. I always grew up around other Filipinos in the neighborhood. When my Uncle moved to Canada from Tarlac, he brought me into the basketball community, which is big in Toronto. Filipino culture was everywhere, especially in the household. I grew up with my mother, my Lola, and my Tito, so every day the house smelled like fish. It was a very Filipino household. They would speak to me in Ilocano and I would reply in English. So we were kind of teaching each other.” he recalled.
From a young age, Matthew’s love for basketball was a major force in his life. His uncle, who immigrated with his Lola to Canada, forced Matthew to tag along with him to pick up games with all of his Titos. It was in these games that he developed his passion for basketball and all that came with it. Through the years, his techniques were enhanced and Matthew felt more and more confident in his abilities. Off the court, he found inspiration in iconic players like Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant, studying everything about them.
“I didn’t do too well in high school, but I was able to get a really good SAT score which propelled me to play Division 1. I had everything I needed growing up in Canada. I didn’t go to the best schools but I had great teachers who inspired me and showed me that I could be whoever I want to be. I wouldn’t be here today without a few of them,” recalled Matthew.
He went on to play Division 1 college basketball and compete in the highly acclaimed March Madness. Throughout his college career, Matthew played under the legendary Mark Schmidt at St. Bonaventure, playing almost every game and competing against some of the top collegiate players in the country.
“I grew up as a skinny Asian kid in Canada. Never lifted weights before and then I moved to the States and everybody’s a tank. They’d been lifting since they were 14, and playing basketball since they were 5 years old. I kind of questioned myself. There was a lot of pressure there. It was the second or third practice, I remember I did well and realized I was good enough and more than capable of playing at that level. And then obviously, making it to March Madness, winning the Atlantic 10 championship. That was the first time my school did this in history. I remember celebrating and cutting the net down. It was a true Cinderella story.”
After graduating, Matthew took another leap to pursue his passion, signing with an agent and traveling to compete in France. Here, he got his first taste of life in a foreign country and had his fair share of obstacles to overcome. Aside from missing his one-year-old son, who was back home with family, Matthew battled culture shock and struggled to find people who spoke his language. Despite all of this, he continued to dominate on the court.
Matthew then ventured on to play in the ASEAN Basketball League to play for the Westports Malaysia Dragons under coach Ariel Vanguardia. This time, he traveled across Asia to compete in places like Thailand, Taiwan, Macau, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. His time with the team put his name on the map. In addition to being named ASEAN Heritage MVP, he played a major role in leading the team to their first-ever ABL championship.
“I loved the ABL. It was great traveling from country to country. Having that home-away atmosphere. Home games you could feel the love from the fans. They play like the six man in the game. They propel you. The energy makes you want to play even harder. That was a great time for me, being able to travel all over Southeast Asia,” mentioned Matthew.
His journey into Philippine basketball started a lot earlier than many know. As a teenager, Matthew played for the Under 18 Batang Gilas team. He represented the country alongside a number of PBA stars, including fellow Filipino-Canadian Norbert Torres, in a FIBA sanctioned tournament held in Iran.
After playing in Malaysia, Matthew returned to the motherland to try his hand in the Philippine Basketball Association. Here, he played for Coach Ariel Vanguardia yet again, but this time with the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Matthew played a major role in shifting the direction of the team and boosting their morale, shaping them to be one of the top contenders in the league.
“I was able to get drafted by the team I wanted to play for at the time, which was Phoenix. Norbert was on the team and we had been playing on the same basketball teams since we were 9 years old so I wanted to play on whatever team he played on. I ended up staying on Phoenix the entire time. It was a great experience. I met a lot of great people along that journey and I found a home in Phoenix. I was able to help spearhead a change in culture.”
In addition to playing with Phoenix, Matthew raised the Philippines flag high as one of the selected players for the Gilas Pilipinas team. As a national team player, he traveled across the globe and showed the world what Filipinos could do. Through the ups and downs of this powerful team, above the controversy and drama that took place throughout their competitions, Matthew held his head high and was a pillar for the team.
“Playing for Gilas was probably the highlight of my basketball career. Being named one of the twelve players to represent the county was huge. Being able to travel the world was amazing. We went to Spain, Korea, Australia, Lebanon, places that I would not think to go to. Just being able to play for the country and hear the national anthem before the games gave me goosebumps every single time.”
On September 1, 2022, Matthew announced on his social media pages that he had signed with Kyoto Hannaryz of the Japanese B.League. This meant transitioning from the Philippines to Japan and the chance for a change of environment and livelihood. With gratitude, Matthew said goodbye to the Phoenix Fuel Masters and started the next chapter of his career in the land of the rising sun.
“I just felt like I needed a change. I felt like my last year or two in the PBA I figured out the algorithm to score like 20 points a game but I wasn’t getting better. I’m not the kind of guy who will just go through the motions and collect a check at the end of the day because that’s not who I am or what I’m a basketball player for. I just love the sport. I wanted to get better and I felt like I wasn’t getting better in that situation. As luck would have it, a coach who coached a high school team that I played against from Toronto got the job for Kyoto in Japan. Very small world. It was almost like fate. The year that I was expiring from Phoenix, I had two months left on my contract, and then a Toronto coach who trained me got a head coaching job for Kyoto. So it was meant to be. We talked and negotiated. Then I left,” mentioned Matthew.
Matthew re-signed with Kyoto Hannaryz for two years and will continue to make an impact in his new home, Japan. Since his move, he has proven to be an asset for his team and continues to shine bright for all of Japan to see. He took part in the Asia Rising Star game during the B.League's All-Star Weekend and has gone to record a season-high of 26 points. Matthew currently enjoys his life in Japan and looks forward to seeing what the future holds for his career.
Upon being asked what his advice is for those who wish to follow in his footsteps, Matthew answered, “Don’t listen to other people’s advice. Everybody’s journey is different. Everybody has different circumstances. If I had listened to the advice that people were giving me before, I wouldn’t be here. Truly believe in yourself. You’re always going to have doubters, but if you’re secure and you know how good you are because of the work that you put in, then you’re going to make it. You have to work on your jump shot too. You’ve got to get in the gym and start shooting.”
Written By Nico Belasco
Photographer, Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host, Creative
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