What Got Me Into Basketball
by Oliver Carlos
I got hooked into basketball because I joined my father watch on television the 1985 PBA 1st Conference championship series. Since then, I fell in love with the sport. I was into track and field in those days, and my father wasn’t really a basketball player nor an avid PBA viewer. But that championship series was just really special that it got father and son glued on the television for a couple of weeks.
The protagonists in that PBA championship were Great Taste Coffee and Magnolia Ice Cream. My Dad pointed out a couple of interesting aspects in the match-up, and those got me hyped-up to follow the series. First, it was a David and Goliath match. Great Taste was the powerhouse team, and Magnolia was the clear underdog. Great Taste had the stronger and more heralded players. They had the key players of the old Crispa and Toyota teams combined, plus MVP front-runner Ricardo Brown, and the winningest coach in Philippine history, Baby Dalupan. Meanwhile, Magnolia had a ragtag local line-up. One commentator even said that nobody in that team was “first-five material” except for Marte Saldana. They were led by a playing coach, Norman Black, who was also the team’s import. Playing, and at the same time coaching a bunch of ordinary players is an extraordinary job, and Norman really had his hands full. Black played whole games without relief, that’s why he earned the title “Mr. 100 percent.”
Second thing that my Dad pointed out was the brother-versus-brother drama story in the series. It’s not everyday that you will see 2 siblings slug it out against each other on the hardcourt. Older brother Chito Loyzaga, a former Toyota stalwart, played for Great Taste. Meanwhile, younger brother Joey played for Magnolia. He wasn’t an established star yet at that time, he’s just one of those ordinary dudes in Black’s team. Joey was the hands-down underdog in the sibling rivalry.
My Dad said that he’s rooting for Magnolia because they’re the underdog. So I went with him in cheering for Magnolia, and Joey Loyzaga was my guy. I loved it whenever he scores, especially on those booming triples. I enjoyed the feeling whenever Magnolia would win. The emotion was so overwhelming whenever a weak team triumphs against great odds.
Even though Great Taste won the championship series 4–2, my Dad and I were entertained to the max. I just discovered a sport wherein everybody has a fighting chance to win. I fell in love with basketball because that’s where the underdog can triumph over the skilled and talented, by using just grit and hard work. I learned the mantra “bilog ang bola.”
The following year, 1986, I got more attached to basketball when Joey Loyzaga teamed up with brother Chito at Ginebra. They also had a bunch of dark horse players for teammates, and a determined playing-coach for a leader, Sonny Jaworski. Everybody loved Ginebra during those days because they were always the underdogs when matched-up with any other PBA team. Ginebra became my new team. I rejoiced when they win, and I felt sad when they lose.
Filipinos love underdogs because they can see themselves in these teams. They can relate because many of us are poor and banged-up by life’s adversities. When underdogs win, it gives hope for fans like me. If basketball is life, then such victory teaches me that I too can overcome in life.
Just like an underdog team, we too are underdog warriors in life. But the good news is Jesus is here to aid us. Thus we must trust Jesus to help us fight our battles. Jesus came to give us hope and a future. He conquered death and all the negative powers of the universe, so that whoever is in him, will likewise enjoy the victory he has secured. He said in John 16:33 (NIV):
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
What troubles are you facing today? Are they so big and daunting? You may feel like a weakling or a sore loser, but don’t lose hope. Be one with Jesus, and then face your world with peace and confidence knowing that you will triumph over-all. Believe that Jesus is carrying you over your problems, and it’s just a matter of time when you will savor the sweet taste of victory.
