To many streetball fans, Mike Heung Chun-keung is a magician. His array of flashy dribbling moves - between the legs, behind the back, even behind the opponent's back - dazzles foes and fans alike. For his court exploits, Heung has been dubbed the Hong Kong Iverson, after NBA star Allen Iverson.
Streetball is a loose, freestyle version of basketball that grew out of black neighbourhoods in the US and has since spread around the world, including Hong Kong where it's gaining traction. Rules governing the traditional game such as travelling are bent and stretched without anyone batting an eyelid. Players are allowed to adopt a more physical form of defence - bumping and pushing their opponents without penalty - and trash-talking is part of the culture.
In the US, popular players on the roster of streetball promoter And1 are household names. The US crew's loud, brash style attracted sell-out crowds during their past two visits to Hong Kong. Heung was in the lineup against the visitors last year - and had a ball bounced off his head for his pains. But the 28-year-old wasn't upset; it's a common tactic in streetball.
'Today's streetballers focus on individual showboating and making a fool of their opponents,' says editorial manager Ryan Maniago, who often joins fellow Filipinos for a few games after work.
The street style is particularly popular with Filipinos here, and it's reflected by the raucous atmosphere at their games on public courts around Wan Chai on weekends.
Maniago, 34, plays in a predominantly Filipino league called the Hong Kong Cage Ballers, whose games are held at the Li Sing Kai courts in Sai Ying Pun. Dubbed 'The Cage' for its wall-to-wall fencing, the venue can feel claustrophobic, especially on Sunday evenings when dozens of Filipino workers pack in to watch the games, complete with noisy commentary from an emcee.