Usapang Bola
I used to be a shameless,
hardcore, die-hard local basketball fan.
The fanaticism
for the sport began in the late ‘80s, when I fell in love with Shell’s
then-rookie, Benjie Paras. I had clippings of Benjie’s photos from newspapers
and magazines kept in a small security-number protected cashbox. I wrote him
letters, typed on perfumed stationeries using the conventional Ta-ka-tak typewriter. 10 years old and
barely touching 4 feet tall at the time, my admiration for the player was way
bigger than myself.
My Dad was a
huge Añejo/ Ginebra fan then, though. He’d sometimes take us to Ultra to watch
live games. It didn’t take long for me to catch on the team’s, and Robert
Jaworski’s never-say-die spirit. Through my father’s influence, I eventually
turned from a Shell devotee to an Añejo convert.
Rudy Distrito’s
winning lay-up in Game 7 of the 1991 Ginebra win over Shell would forever
remain as one of my all-time favorite basketball memories.
Then in the
mid-90s, I started high school and got too engrossed in extra-curricular
activities (COCC and Student Council and after-exam-movie gimmicks, and all
that jazz). Basketball took the backseat.
The fanaticism
was back with a vengeance in 1996, though. PBA newbies, Bal David and Marlou
Aquino joined Ginebra. It was a very potent Center-Point combination made ever
stronger with power forward, Noli Locsin and big guard, Vince Hizon (and a very
deep bench to boot). In 1997, Ginebra/ Gordon’s Gin won the championship again,
and I was beside myself with glee.
I was a
freshman in UP in 1996. My love for basketball went beyond the PBA—when I got
to UP, I became an instant UP Maroons fan! And, as luck would have it, my
closest friends from my freshman block were crazy over basketball as well!
UP
was never known to be a basketball powerhouse (unlike UST or La Salle back in the mid-90s). However, the Maroons lineup
in 1996 did not disappoint. They even managed to wind up in the Final Four, I
think. I could still remember the main players: Paolo Mendoza, Allan
Gamboa, Bryan Gahol, Bing Victoria, Dexter Racho, Ogie Gumatay. Their coach
then was Eric Altamirano, before he was replaced by Nick Jorge in 1997 or ’98.
My friends and
I closely followed the games (and the players!). After class, even though none
of us had cars then, we would ride the UP-Katipunan jeep and head to Ateneo to
watch the games. During big matches, we’d troop all the way to Araneta Coliseum
or Rizal Stadium in Taft just to cheer the UP team. Being freshmen, our classes
were mostly in AS (except for Kasaysayan 2 in Asian Center,
and of course, our PE classes). But since the players were mostly sophomores,
we’d often see them, too! We memorized the floors and times when there were
‘player sightings’ and casually pass by, hoping to catch a glimpse. Some
players were frat members or part of the ‘sosyal’ crowd, and would often
be seen hanging out at the AS lobby (this was where all the coño people
usually hung out then). My friends and I would walk back and forth in the
lobby, giggling and whispering as we stole guilty glances at the burly fellows
seated on the benches. All we talked about was basketball, basketball,
basketball! I don’t know how we managed to do it, but we somehow got hold of
some of the Maroons’ home numbers and, like lovesick idiots, actually called
them up! We’d give fake names and fake reasons for calling. We’d ring their
phones, listen to their voices and hang up. In our first barkada Christmas
party, we called up a player and took turns talking to him! The guy
indulged, praise heavens. But I still cringe to this day when I remember that
night. Shameless fanaticism, all right!
During the
first semester of my second year, I took Cheerleading for my PE. Oh no,
no, no, don’t get me wrong! In UP, Cheer Dancing is different from
Cheerleading. Cheerleading is the PE class where the only physical task you
have to perform is to bring yourself to wherever the UP team is playing, and
have a pep squad member sign your ticket. That’s it! Boy, did I ace that
subject. I watched almost all of the Maroons’ games during this UAAP season!
And here is a
very fantastic event. I used to work as a cashier in Jollibee-Philcoa. During
one night shift, I was flabbergasted to see THE Paolo Mendoza walking towards
the counter. I swear I could actually feel my mouth dropping wide open as he
approached. But that is far from being the best part of the story.
The best part
of the story is Paolo was soon joined by another Maroon. And another. And
another. Then some of the coaching staff. All of them, standing in front of me,
looking at the products listed overhead, giving me their orders. I probably
looked like a total fool, smiling from ear to ear as I filled soft drink cups
and called out orders to the kitchen crew and arranged fries and burgers on the
tray. That was perhaps the biggest single transaction I ever handled in my
Jollibee career (career daw, o!). And it was hands-down the most delightful!
When I shifted
from Economics to Broadcast Communication during second sem of 1997,
I’d often see the players in the Masscomm building (a handful of
them were Film majors). Unfortunately, my interest in basketball-watching had
waned significantly. My focus shifted from basketball to my college org,
Broad Ass, and my my major subjects. Add to that the cumbersome fact
that the UP Maroons started having more losses than wins. The
situation has remained sad ever since.
Even now in my
late 20s, I admit I am still hoping for a UP championship. There are
days when I’d wish I was in UP during the late 80s when the Maroons, led
by Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras and Eric Altamirano, lorded it over all
other teams and won the UAAP cup. I long for the day when UP would also
be known for its brawn and not just for its brains. I could still
recall how we’d (in all bitterness!) shout at students from other
schools during games when UP’s obviously about to lose, ‘Quiz Bee na lang! Hahaha. Such
is the UP bravado. Talo na nga, ang yabang pa rin. Or nakakahanap pa rin
ng rason para mag-yabang. 
Still, I could imagine
that very, very few things could bring me more elation other than
singing, UP Naming Mahal, in a
match that UP actually won. I thought Marvin Cruz could lead UP to the
championship. Sadly, the team fell short, but, as I said, I’m not yet done
hoping.
I never
imagined that a childhood passion would make my college life a whole lot more
interesting. On a deeper, more significant level, it was through love for
basketball that I met the best friends I still keep to this day. If only for
the wonderful friendship and memories I stumbled upon through the sport, I
could honestly claim that basketball defined more than half of my UP stay. Yes,
even if most events occured as I watched on the sidelines.
I guess the
line that goes, “Life’s a ball” holds more meaning for me than I could ever
begin to explain.
