Life and Times

I was raised in a village where the game of basketball was more than a sport. It is a way of life. There would be no day that passed without anybody shooting hoops. From seniors to mosquitoes, basketball leagues became a tradition. And more than just friendly games, players suffer cuts and bruises just for a win. In B.I.R. Village, Fairview, basketball is a religion.

But nobody went to college basketball there. I don’t know anyone who made it on a live telecast of the UAAP. We have plenty of has-beens though. These are the greatest players who never were. Stories of legendary battles with now PBA stars are plenty. Rivalries from the rest of Fairview are classic tales as they are being told, with the swagger of alcohol, on a daily basis. Oh how the people here loved their beer and barbeque. Probably why nobody made it to the next level.

There is fighting all the time. Visiting teams never left the court without being mauled. And between friends, a lot of fighting too. Slug fests were a common sight. I had my share of bouts. My style was to use my fists first, but when I know I have no chance of hitting that bigger guy, I rush for wood and have a go at his shin.

Winning is everything. With winning comes respect. Normally, respect comes from being a sportsman. Not in here. No matter how good your game is, as long you didn’t win, you get no respect. And sometimes even if you do win, people will hate you. Respect needs to be earned. But the players you’ll encounter were trained to be unforgiving. So good luck.

After 12 years, my family moved to a city where everything is near. I still come back to Fairview to play though. And only after 12 years did I win a basketball championship. Back to back championships to be exact. Only then did I feel a sense of achievement in the sport I grew to love. People talk about me all the time. The mosquitoes high five me like I’m a hero or something. The has beens hug me after a game and open bottles for me. Cheers all around. Respect? No, I just happened to be winning.

Tonight I’ll be playing in a do or die game versus a team full of childhood friends. We haven’t gotten to a brawl, yet. The whole village will be watching. If my teams wins, we advance to the playoffs. If we lose, I can kiss my three-peat dreams goodbye. Actually, I don’t give a damn about it. I don’t live there anymore. But true to the heritage, it is all about winning. Tonight, I defend my tradition.