In a chat with One Sports, new PBA champion Brandon Bates of the Meralco Bolts proudly displayed his body art, many of which reflect his deep-seated passions, especially for pop culture.
Brandon Bates, the playoff rookie sensation turned PBA champion with Meralco, is going all out not just for his basketball achievements, but for his distinctive ink collection that pays homage to his anime and pop culture interests.
Exactly how many tattoos does this man have?
In a chat with
One Sports, Bates proudly displayed his body art, many of which reflect his deep-seated passions, especially for pop culture.
"Honestly, if I got a part of my body that’s free, I’ll probably tattoo something that I love on it," he casually remarked, highlighting his commitment to the art form.
In a league where anime fans are a rarity, or at least not so much known publicly, Bates stands out as one. that’s hard to miss.
"I love Dragon Ball Z, you know?" Bates admitted, highlighting his affinity with the iconic series created by the late, great Akira Toriyama.
Examining Bates’ tattoos reveal a story of admiration. On his right arm, Son Goku from Dragon Ball Z is featured—a tribute to his childhood hero.
"Goku’s obviously a personal hero of mine," Bates acknowledged, emphasizing the character's impact on his life.
His right ankle bears another tribute from the iconic franchise: the Kame House, the home of Master Roshi.
"I’ve got one here as well, it’s Kame House. Kame House from Dragon Ball Z as well. I love Dragon Ball Z," he added enthusiastically.
To hammer the point home, Bates celebrated his first PBA championship with Dragon Ball too, sporting a shirt featuring Broly as he exited the Big Dome following Game 6 of the Philippine Cup Finals.
Bates is not limited to DBZ though, another tattoo he has is Homer from the long-running cartoon, The Simpsons.
"I’ve got Homer SImpson here. This one just looks a little bit special," he quipped, revealing yet another facet of his eclectic interests.
As for other anime, Bates quickly listed Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer as among his current favorites, hinting at future tattoo plans inspired by these series.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Brandon Bates represents a new breed of PBA figures who embrace diverse interests. His tattoos not only illustrate his passions but also celebrate pop culture devotion, proving that his heroics extend far beyond the basketball court.
[Related: Players Gonna Play: Jedi or Sith? Brandon Bates represents Meralco's New Hope]
May the Force be always be with him.