MANILA—Finally a naturalized Filipino, Marcus Douthit is working his tail off—not only in hoops—but also in embracing the country's culture.

And just like in basketball, it's basics first before the complicated X's and O's—and it's the language barrier that Douthit has to address first among many other differences.

"I'm learning some of the culture, like learning the language. I understand a little bit but I have to practice some more before I can start speaking it," Douthit told INQUIRER.net Thursday.

Eager to garner basketball glory the country has lost, Douthit was brought in to spearhead a young roster of Filipino cagers of the ambition Smart Gilas Pilipinas program.

And in his first week in the Philippines, the 30-year-old imeddiately got lessons from the young guns.

"When I first got here, the guys started calling me Kuya,” Douthit said. “I didn't know what it meant. So I started calling them Kuya back.”

“I understand it's like a respect thing. Just like they respect me, I respect them also,” he added.

The New York native has been with thenational team for years now and is just thankful for the rare chance of suiting up for the country.

"Everyday me and my family continue to thank God that we had this opportunity," said Douthit.

And so far, Douthit is making the most out of it—on and off the court, that is.

"Every time we get a break, me and my wife try to see something. Hopefully we can keep on visiting as long as coach gives us breaks," shared Douthit, who so far has seen Boracay, Cebu, Batangas, Palawan.

Douthit, though, has never experienced roaming around the dingy streets of Manila—shopping around for DVDs in Quiapo, haggling for prized finds in Ukay-Ukays, or relishing isaw, betamax and barbeque from the sidewalk—in his 10 month stay in the country.

But as far as Filipino delicacies are concerned, he wouldn't want miss out on it.

"Every once in a while me and my driver eat some Filipino food. My wife doesn't like it that much but me, I try a lot of different things," he said. "Maybe I can have a Filipino cook or something."

Also part of his adjustments are climate concerns which the six-foot-11 banger admitted to be the toughest thing to get used to.

"When I first got here. It was really really hot. That was the hardest getting used to. But slowly but surely, I'm get used to it," said Douthit.

And when it comes to Manila traffic: "It's totally different because here, there's no laws—only red light and green light, that's how it is."

"The jeepneys don't respect anything," added Douthit, who enjoys Sunday driving like the rest of the Filipinos who are at wits end over horrible weekday traffic.

In numerous international stints, Douthit has proved he is worth the shot but team wise, the Nationals have yet to bring the basketball prominence the team was built for.

Though with Douthit, who missed the Asian Games last November, now eligible to join Smart Gilas in the Fiba Asia Championship in Wuhan, China, set this September, brighter things are ahead.

He's leading Smart Gilas Pilipinas in the on-going PBA Commissioner's Cup, where the Nationals has kept its record pristine at 5-0 and more importantly have assured themselves of a playoff spot.

His most troubling question so far?

"How do you know which jeep is going to where? That's what I always wonder, and I think 'hey, how do people know which way to get on?'"

Maybe he should try one ride to find out?

"No, no, no, I don't even think I'll fit."

For Douthit, it's not the ounce of blood that would truly make him a Filipino.

"I'll never have Filipino blood, but as far as becoming a Filipino, I'll always have it in my heart," Douthit finished.

Celest Flores & Mark Vincent Giongco, Phil. Daily Inquirer