Saturday, January 17, 2009
THE GANG THAT COULD SHOOT STRAIGHT
This group of basketball enthusiasts from Quiapo's Barangay 393 range in age from 11 to 16; the shortest is about 5', while the tallest stands 5'9", and happens to be only 12 years old.
They've been trained and coached during the past summers by previous varsity players, including a pro with the Philippine Basketball Association. And practically every one has participated in various inter-barangay tournaments from the time they were able to; hence, each one knows how to play the game.
On weekdays, they play full-court pickup games in the late afternoons or early evenings after school; whereas, on weekends, they oftentimes play both in the mornings and afternoons. About a month ago, they began playing at other courts in Quiapo against various ragtag teams, sometimes with members who were taller and heavier. So far, they have been accumulating impressive wins.
Their group remains without an official name. They're unable to think of something as unique as "Pechak", coined by a team of bigger and older boys from the same neighborhood. It is a meaningless word, but original and catchy, nonetheless. Until they could come up with one, they merely refer to themselves as "Bolpatz" when signing the schedule sheets.
There was an inter-barangay tournament held last month, hosted by the barangay officials on Quiapo's Fraternal Street. The finals took place during Quiapo's fiesta weekend. Pechak won the Kids Division; their overall record was 10 wins, one loss. One can only imagine the impression Pechak has on Bolpatz, and how much the latter dream of someday playing against or with some of Pechaks' star players.
Bolpatz was unable to participate in this particular tournament because they lacked the sponsors to defray the costs of having their own uniforms and sign-up fees. Half of them don't even own basketball shoes; playing with only their slippers or just going at it barefoot, mind you.
Their parents are engaged in various lines of work -- from being street vendors to OFWs; thus, some of these kids go to public schools, while others attend private schools. But they have been friends since grade school; a few were even classmates at the nearby Mabini Elementary School. Some of them have been on the top ten of their respective class; to date, four excel in mathematics, Regrettably, three other kids in the team had foolishly dropped out of school this year. However, they all claim to going back next school year.
None of these kids are into drugs or alcohol, but of the three who smoke cigarettes, one had recently quit for good while the rest are struggling to kick the habit.
Another interesting aspect about this team is that it's comprised of Christians and Muslims. Despite of the differences in their religious upbringing, they share typical adolescent angst and eyebrow-raising dreams of grandeur, but the compelling force that binds them together is a passion for basketball.
Incidentally, the photo above does not show all of them; the other five or six were not present when it was taken. Their unusual large number for a team is due to a collective reluctance to say no to a friend who wants to join. Therefore, what should be a team of 12 kids has now grown to about 16, which only increases the potential costs for uniforms and sign-up fees (the more players, the higher the fees). "But how could we turn away a friend?" they'd ask in return.
When I chanced upon one of their evening games, I was immediately impressed by their skills and sportsmanship. They played a good and clean game of basketball; devoid of silly street bravado. And when a couple of kids of the other team lost control of their elbows, Bolpatz disregarded the annoying, though painful, jabs and remained focused on the game. Indeed, I was humbled by the volunteer coaches they had in the past who guided them into becoming fine athletes.
Recently, Bolpatz hatched up a plan: to help them gain the attention of potential sponsors for the upcoming tournaments, they challenged Pechak, the champions of the recently-held tournament. It was accepted, though reluctantly. The game will be held in two weeks so as to give the shorter and younger Bolpatz more time to prepare.
The odds of winning are indeed against Bolpatz, but then again, in sports -- as well as in life in general -- the spirit to emerge victorious often spur incredible upsets.
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Please note:
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
Labels: life in Manila, Sports
posted by Señor Enrique at 10:34 AM
| 19 comments
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
BADMINTON & SPIRITUALITY
In my ongoing effort to improve my game, I have subscribed to “Badminton Secrets,” a weekly email newsletter by Robert G. Johns. Last Thursday, I was rather surprised to receive what seemed to be more of a spiritual lesson for abundant living than a tip on how to play better badminton.He calls it "Five Words That Can Change Your Life." He even recommends that we all “should write down, memorize, in fact etch onto our brain” this lesson, because it may just turn out to be, as he claims it, “the best, most rewarding way of achieving anything.” And he means anything.
Supposedly, these five words had rewarded many people with more love, success and happiness than they could possibly have imagined. And that these five words have been handed down from generation to generation; making a significant difference to whoever heeds them, as well as positively affect the rest of the world too.
And what are these five words?
“Give and ye shall receive.”
However, Johns argues that it isn’t about giving and then expecting something back in return; rather, it’s about giving without any expectation of being reciprocated. Essentially, it’s about giving unconditionally. Undoubtedly, this is a well-known universal truth — that whatever you give whole-heartedly comes back to you tenfold. But what does giving have to do with playing better badminton?
To experience the rewards of this truth, Johns suggests for any player to now switch his thinking from “how can I play better badminton” to “how can I give to other people in badminton.”
And he had listed a couple of scenarios to drive home his point:
- Someone gives their time by staying behind and coaching some juniors free of charge. The juniors tell their regular coach, and he invites that person to a session where they pick up a whole host of tips and techniques.
- One too many people have been booked to play in a match. The player who offers to stand down is then included in the next match, against the league leaders that helps take that person's game to a new level.
According to this universal law, Johns argues not only will you get more back than you ever give, but other people will immeasurably benefit from your kindness!
He also recommends the following:
- Never give bad line calls on purpose.
- Encourage or praise other players, even if they might be your nearest rivals.
- When you notice your rival has a tell-tale sign that they are going to play a certain shot, tell them!
The bottom line here is this: by completely trusting and applying this principle, we allow the universe to reward us by creating opportunities for us to achieve whatever it is we dream of.
And as if to underscore Johns’ message, that following Sunday, Cathy_bythesea, a journalist for Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) by profession, posted an entry, “Blogging and Writing for God, in which she made mention of her article published on that same day by PDI.
Her article was about an interview she conducted with Kay Warren — teacher, author, speaker and wife of Rick Warren, author of the New York Times bestseller “The Purpose Driven Life.” The interview centered on Kay Warren’s talk entitled “Finding Joy, No Matter What” — five practical ways to lead a joyful life. And one of those was about becoming a giver.
Having been reminded about the immeasurable joys of giving by two respected sources made me think that perhaps, my guardian angel must really want me to embody this spiritual lesson in order to attain a more joyful, fulfilling life. Okay, I’m game!
Labels: spirituality, Sports, Words of wisdom
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:48 AM
| 15 comments
Thursday, June 22, 2006
FORM AND STYLE
My nephew stopped by after school the other day depressed. He said he failed at the tryout to become a member of his high school’s badminton varsity team. I told him that from this point forward he could either improve his game at an even higher level, or end up a mere weekend player like most enthusiasts of this sport.Reminded him that Michael Jordan also failed at his first high school varsity tryout. But he didn’t give up. Instead, he turned it into a challenge and practiced at a ferocious level. The following year he made it as a varsity player and the rest, as they say, is history.
Superb athletes come a dime a dozen, but those with a formidable will to win are rare and few. You can spot the latter kind by the passion and intensity they bring into their game. Dwayne Wade of Miami Heat recently demonstrated those qualities; becoming this year's NBA championship MVP.
As for the even younger professional athletes, Rafael Nadal also exemplifies this will to win. He’s currently the world's No. 2 male tennis player and was the first player since Boris Becker to reach this ranking in his teenage years. He had also become a master of the clay court for having clinched a record setting 60-match winning streak while playing on it.
Although my chances of catching him on TV are somewhat sporadic and far in between, from what I had seen so far, this young man definitely brings a certain level of excitement to the game much like what Bjorn Borg, a teenage prodigy, had done in the past. Borg became the World No. 1 tennis player for the years 1979 and 1980. His reign was cut short when he suddenly went on an 8-year hiatus.
Anyway, my nephew promised that he will keep practicing to become better prepared for the next tryout. I suggested for him to keep developing his form and style. His searing smashes and stealthy drop shops may be surefire winning shots, but he lacks litheness in his movements; at times looking awkward and brusque when executing his basic forehand and backhand strokes.
I praised him for not missing any of his private lessons last summer, which demonstrated how much he loves the sport. Hopefully, he will soon realize the merits of developing his techniques, because among other things, having those would make him a more graceful and exciting player to watch.
Photo credit: cnn.net
Labels: Sports
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:35 PM
| 13 comments
Saturday, April 29, 2006
BADMINTON, ANYONE? – Part 2
As soon as I had decided to take up badminton, I immediately signed up for lessons as I had done with the other sports I got into in the past. This way, I will learn all the proper techniques involved so as to better enjoy the game sooner. But most importantly, having a teacher helps avoid my developing any bad form or habits, which are often difficult if not impossible to correct later on.
The teacher or trainer costs me two hundred pesos per hour—a little less than four US dollars—on top of the usual court fees which vary anywhere from one hundred twenty pesos to two hundred and fifty pesos per hour depending upon which day of the week and time of day I choose to play.
However, even though I book and pay for the entire hour, I am yet to complete a full hour of instructions; only half an hour the most. The reason: the fundamental drills involved—from the basic footwork to the forehand/backhand swings—although modified and toned down for someone like me (an overweight middle-aged guy) can still be extremely exhausting. If the teacher were to bring it down a notch to make it even easier for me, I might as well just go back to golf; played more leisurely and getting a sunburn its only physical drawback. Be that as it may, I always listen to what my body tells me as a preventive measure against any injury. I know that trainers tend to push, but it’s still up to me to call the shots and stop as soon as I no longer enjoy the present experience.
It was never my intention to develop any astonishing skills to defy my true age and physical limitations. Rather, I just want to learn the proper form and techniques in order to become one with the game; much like turning it into a dance of some sort as I had done with downhill skiing and tennis.
Recently, I’ve been going for my appointed lesson/court time much earlier, as well as staying a while longer afterwards mainly to watch the advanced players. They are so limber and play with such grace despite of the intensity of their matches. One player I favor is no more than fifteen years of age yet his movements and strokes are impressive. We share the same teacher and I was told the kid hasn’t been playing badminton for more than a year. I was astounded. This proves the merits of taking lessons early on; hence, fully embodying the mechanics of this sport.
When I started, my mind perceived the oncoming shuttlecock as a deadly projectile and would involuntarily tense up. Oftentimes I would miss hitting it altogether or my stroke would be so constricted that I would fail to hit it over the net. I’ve also realized that constantly bending down to pick up the shuttlecock can be more tiresome than volleying continually for a couple of minutes. That in itself was a good enough incentive to keep improving my game.
Speaking of shuttlecocks, although the one made of real feather—which costs an average of fifty pesos each (a little less than a dollar)—rarely outlasts an hour of vigorous hits, it’s still much better to use it in the long run than its more durable plastic counterpart. The reason: plastic shuttlecocks have swifter flights and not used in standard matches. The feathered version, on the other hand, somehow slows in mid-flight; unless, of course, it was hit with a smash. A player who has learned to keenly gauge its flight is most often able to play the game in a more relaxed and graceful manner.
The only downside of my having taken up badminton is that I have to relegate my tennis to the backburner, so to speak. That’s because the techniques of swinging a tennis racquet clash with that of badminton. For one, a locked wrist is required in tennis for controlled and precise shots; whereas in badminton, snapping the wrist is a must in order to add power to a stroke, be it a forehand or backhand. I oftentimes swing my badminton racquet as if I were holding a tennis racquet; creating a high-arching slow shot, which gives the opponent an opportunity to smash it back at me. The culprit here is my muscle memory overruling my perception. So, part of my training is to retrain my muscle memory to unlock my wrist whenever taking a swing with a badminton racquet.
Incidentally, much to my delight, I was invited the other day by a more advanced player to play a friendly doubles match with his friends. Although I was elated, I declined and told him that perhaps, in another month I would be much more comfortable and ready to play with them. This is how I’ve always enjoyed all the sports I’ve participated in, as well as avoid any injuries or accidents — by always being comfortable and fully aware of my limitations; not jumping onto a higher level of play without being totally ready for it.
So, for now, I enjoy sitting by the sideline and watching the more experienced players at their game. I'm quite confident that someday soon I, too, will advance onto their level of play.
Picture credit: abc.net.au
Labels: Sports
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:40 PM
| 3 comments
Friday, April 28, 2006
BADMINTON, ANYONE?
Spurred by the Easter spirit of personal renewal, I had decided to put into action an idea I had been mulling over for some time now — to get off my butt and do something about the nasty feeling of sluggishness due to the excess weight I had put on. This time, I opted against going through another fad diet as I’ve usually favored in the past. Surely, I shed off the unwanted pounds; it wasn’t actually that difficult an ordeal, but maintaining the weight loss was another story. It proved to be a tougher challenge than realized; virtually an impossible feat for me. Consequently, as always, I would regain the lost pounds and then some.
So, instead of once again practicing food deprivation in which my body would only interpret as starvation and slower my already dawdling metabolism, this time around, I’ve chosen to focus on some physical activity that I could stick with; something that’s fun, as well as induce profuse sweating so I could burn away this super-sized fat I’ve been lugging around. Badminton, I have decided, is it for me.
This sport is unlike golf or tennis where you have to attain a certain level of proficiency to really get into it. It’s a simple enough game to enjoy immediately as long as you have the basic eye-hand coordination; not to mention that you can play it with the entire family.
Nonetheless, as you become more competent with it, badminton can be a fast-paced sport that requires superb physical stamina and spontaneous tactical skills.
Interestingly, the indoor badminton courts in Metro Manila are not air-conditioned like the indoor tennis courts in New York. Even with only a few minutes of volleying, you’ll find yourself drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. However, with proper foot work and breathing techniques — like exhaling whenever you take a swing with your racquet and inhaling as you await your opponent to hit back the shuttlecock — you wouldn’t run out of breath as much. The heat inside the facility, on the other hand, eventually becomes favorable as you get used to it, for it stimulates further sweating, which is excellent for burning away those excess body fat.
In addition, all this sweating makes me crave more for water and less on solid food. Neither am I focused on losing weight, but more on improving my physical stamina and developing my game. This new mind set is truly more fun to deal with than agonizing over which foods to give up. As I get better at badminton, hopefully, my own mind/body will further cease craving for those foods that will only sabotage my goals.
Photo credit: Supreme Court Athletic Club
Labels: Sports
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:08 AM
| 4 comments
Thursday, March 16, 2006
DOCTOR K
It saddens me to read about former baseball star Dwight Gooden having another brush with the law. According to a New York Times article, he was ordered held without bond the other day and faces up to five years in prison for violating the terms of his probation. He pleaded guilty in November to speeding away from police after a DUI traffic stop in August 2005 for which he was sentenced to three years probation. On Tuesday, he went to a regular meeting with a probation officer where he admitted to once again using cocaine.
Dwight Gooden was once the toast of New York City. He set a major league rookie record with 276 strikeouts in only 218 innings. The strikeouts earned him the nickname Doctor K. He tied the major league mark for strikeouts and instantly became the New York Mets' ace and made them overnight contenders. He was the youngest All-Star ever in the history of major league baseball. He was voted Rookie of the Year in 1984 and won the Cy Young award in 1985 with the "pitcher's Triple Crown," leading the National League in wins and strikeouts.
And then as if suddenly, his troubles with cocaine started making headline news.
I met him once — at the backstage party of Patti LaBelle’s concert at Madison Square — right after his release from rehab. I didn’t really have much to say to him, so after shaking his hand and wishing him luck, I moved on to join my friends. I was surprised at how shy he was.
To this day, Dwight Gooden is one of those troubled stars who would make me wonder what sort of inner turmoil could be so overwhelming that would make gifted people like him resort to illicit drugs just to alleviate it. And in the process, jeopardize everything they had worked so hard for in life.
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Labels: personalities, Sports
posted by Señor Enrique at 11:34 AM
| 4 comments
Friday, November 18, 2005
SCHOOL OF HARD KNICKS
While flipping through the channels last Monday, I came across the New York Knicks playing against the Sacramento Kings. Usually, I’d move on right along, but Coach Larry Brown caught my attention. I had always admired him when he was coaching the Pacers, and now he’s the Knicks’ supreme strategist. Out of respect for the man, I decided to kick back and watch the game.
The Knicks won. They were a sight to behold; they played smart basketball. The New York Times sports writer, Howard Beck, claims, “For the first time since Brown took the team's reins, the Knicks - the kids, the veterans, all of them - displayed a grit and passion worthy of their Hall of Fame coach.”
If this new ensemble of agile and talented young players could sustain this kind of smart playing, they stand a good chance of making it to the playoffs. But then again, I shall remain distant. I had already learned my lesson.
You see, my first love affair with the Knicks was a pleasant one. With Red Holzman as their coach, they won two NBA titles. It was a team of smart players who played smart basketball — consistently; thus, the two rings. Subsequently, as new players replaced the veterans, I lost interest altogether and switched to tennis. No one abandoned anyone here; it was an amicable parting of ways for all.
When Pat Riley took over as coach in the ‘90s, I went back to following the Knicks. However, it was a wrong move on my part. The Knicks subjected me to a couple of seasons of emotional roller coaster. The team had so much promise, but the emotions of Pat Riley’s players overwhelmed their intellect. They evolved into a team of all brawn, no brain and soon became NBA’s bad boys. The emotional intensity that fueled their every game sometimes incited all-out brawls; a more common scene in hockey games than in basketball. Once it happened while the NBA commissioner was in the audience; embarrassment was etched on his face.
But worse of all, the Knicks failed miserably on a couple of occasions to stop the ultimate nemesis — Chicago Bulls’ #23 — the devil incarnate; the vainglorious terrorist who inflicted pain and humiliation to millions of New Yorkers. He was a shameless sharp-shooting maniac who deliberately deprived New York basketball fans of their moment of glory — a championship. Yes, the Knicks were unable to contain him. And for that reason alone, I dropped the Knicks and ignored them the way grandma did to rancid fish in the wet market.
Being a sports fan is not easy. I didn’t like what became of me. Besides developing intense passion for the game and the home team itself, I also became strangely superstitious. To ensure victory, I would perform cultish rituals like a deranged monk before each game. If the team should lose, the wrong shirt I wore at the game could be at fault. My dog was not safe from blame, either. His having pooped at the wrong curb or the wrong part of the neighborhood could jinx the team’s game that evening. Ridiculous, indeed, but hey, it’s part of being a fan.
As for the Knicks, let’s just say I’ll play hard to get for now. If they play smart this season, they might be able to woo me back.
Links
New York Knickerbockers
http://www.nba.com/knicks/
Superstitious Sport Fans
http://www.psychologyofsports.com/guest/superstitiousfans.htm
Michael Jordan
Come on, he’s a nobody; a waste of time.
Labels: Sports
posted by Señor Enrique at 5:07 AM
| 2 comments
