17 fastbreak tips from cagers
November 14, 2006 | 12:00am
Basketball is not just a famous spectator sport in this country. It means much more to a lot of people. It’s a passion, a way of life. Most parents dream of their sons playing in the professional league to earn millions of pesos as a cager and endorsement model. The status and popularity this sport carries are akin to showbiz. And it’s common for celebrities to go steady with or wed cagers.
Imagine the delight of over 200 street children when famous basketball players took time out for an outreach program with them dubbed "PBA Goes to Nayon ng Kabataan." No lights, no cheering crowds. Just wide-eyed kids eager to touch, listen, and learn from the court idols they only see on TV and read about in the papers.
We were present to document the nuggets of court wisdom from the 17 PBA players, which they shared with the aspiring young court hopefuls. Let’s start with the 14 players of the new team Welcoat and end with three from Purefoods.
He played for Letran when he was in third year high school. "I was too skinny in high school, so I decided to play basketball," he recounts. "I also became conscious of my food intake and concentrated on being healthy. In sports, basketball was my first love so I chose to concentrate on that to be healthy."
ROB WAINWRIGHT: Play by yourself.
"Actually, when I was younger, the first sport I played was baseball … I played a lot of sports. I was really active in sports when I was young. My parents actually kept me active in sports. That was the way I stayed out of a lot of trouble when I was younger."
As to why he became a member of his high school basketball team: "Well … uhm … it’s a funny story, but when I was playing baseball, I got hit in the face with the ball. After that, I kind of shied away from baseball. And since I was actually the tallest in my class, I kind of got pushed towards basketball. My father played basketball in high school. So basketball just became fun because you know it was easy to play … it was easy to play by yourself."
JUN JUN CABATU: Prepare for a game.
Asked if he played basketball as a kid, he says, "Ya, since I was six because my dad used to play for PBA, so he always brought me along during practice. I was really interested in basketball. I really wanted to play basketball when I grew up. I played basketball with my dad, he taught me the basics. I played for a team since grade school (Loscar Mary Institution) and high school (St. Vincent). Then I played for La Salle in college. Starting basketball at a young age allows you to learn the basics and get the proper conditioning and preparation for a game. It really helps!"
GILBERT LAO: Start young.
"Since grade three, I was already playing basketball for Uno High School. When I was a kid, I underwent formal basketball training. Playing varsity early helped me a lot. I mean the basics, the fundamentals, you got to start young. You have to start with the basics and fundamentals early because these are necessary when playing the pros."
DENVER LOPEZ: Make exercise a habit.
"I’ve been playing a lot of sports since I was in elementary school. I’d say around nine years old. Basketball was my main sport, but I also played baseball. Being a varsity player early helped me a lot; obviously exercising has to become a habit. I started when I was young and I developed that habit. So, a lot of exercise fundamentals that I apply, I picked up when I was younger."
JIREH IBANEZ: Know how to dribble.
"I started when I was eight years old, I guess, with basketball. My dad thought me how to do a lay-up. I started varsity when I was in fourth grade so I was like 10 years old. I studied in the province and joined the varsity team from first year to fourth year. My dad has a friend in Cavite who used to play for a certain school; we invited him over to teach me how to dribble, basic dribbling … and that really helped me; usually for my height, they don’t know to dribble so he taught me. With discipline and work ethics, it was a big help."
NINO GELIG: Discipline is key.
"Since elementary, I was playing volleyball, and then in high school, I started playing basketball all throughout college. My first school didn’t have a basketball team so I joined volleyball. It was only in high school, when I transferred, that I tried out for the basketball varsity.
"My being trained early was a big factor. I learned a lot in high school, which I applied in college. First is self-discipline. You need that to be successful."
ALVIN CASTRO: Learn basketball in the streets.
"As far as I remember, since I was eight, I was playing basketball already. Actually, I just learned how to play in the streets, pick-up games with my friends and my cousins, but I also played other sports aside from basketball. I played American football also, and track and field in high school. I was in basketball varsity; in football, I played junior varsity; and in track and field, also varsity. Actually, when I was starting basketball, they didn’t have so many clinics – the kids now are luckier because they have these clinics, organizations for basketball and stuff, while in my time, I just played with my friends. I started with the discipline in basketball when I was in high school, which served as my formal training."
JOJO TANGKAY: Passion helps.
"I was already playing in the barangay when I was seven years old. I played varsity in high school. I started with volleyball when I was young and then shifted to basketball. It is a great help to learn the basic skills when you’re young so that everything is natural as you grow older. Discipline and passion are also helpful."
ADONIS STA. MARIA: Street games can be tough.
"Basketball has been my favorite since I was young. I started when I was seven, inspired by my cousins who were star players in our province. I played varsity in grade school and then in high school for Mapua. I learned a lot from playing even outside on the streets. Games on the street could be tough, without rules. Others keep on running not even knowing they’ve already injured someone."
JOEY MENTE (slam dunk champion ’05): Eat well, sleep early.
"I started playing street basketball when I was eight years old. I joined the varsity in high school and then in college. I was with Adamson and then I transferred to Lyceum."
He has this priceless advice to give to kids, "Actually, the most important of all is discipline. Eat well, sleep early, and remind yourselves that you do not have to depend on your parents for everything. Condition your mind that you can stand on your own. Sleep early, eat more vegetables and fish, not so much meat."
JAY SAGAD: Follow your heart.
"I was with volleyball varsity from grade six until second year high school. But since all my cousins were playing basketball, I decided I also wanted to play that. Blessed with height, I did play in third and fourth year high school. Then in first year college, I played NCAA volleyball for St. Benilde. I had the advantage because of the leg training I got in volleyball. I can jump a lot better."
His advice to kids: "Follow your instinct. Play ball if you think you can. If you love sports, follow your heart. My training early in life really helped a lot because I only had to make a few adjustments today."
ABBY SANTOS: Work hard and train hard.
"I was a late bloomer. It was my dad who loves playing basketball. He influenced me to play. I actually started playing basketball when I was in fourth year high school at St. Francis. That was where my training started. Then college. My skills developed from college, then PBL. Well, for kids who want to play basketball, they should work hard and train hard to achieve their goals."
ROILAND BAGUION: Practice makes perfect.
"When I was young, I played a lot because I really love basketball. I was just eight or nine years old, and it was street ball. I didn’t go to Milo or any training camp, I just played every day with friends. I only turned varsity player in high school. I really love basketball, no other sport. Playing every day then really helped my career now. On skills, I can dribble left, for example. Even after practice, I still play when I go home. I learn a lot, I get to practice what I learn. That’s a big deal especially now as a leader in basketball."
"I was about 15 years old when I started playing basketball. It is a big help to start training young because we learn the basics and we get to improve. And the training is a big help in our development.
PAUL ARTADI: No smoking, no night-outs.
"As early as in elementary, maybe even at five years old, I already loved sports, soccer and basketball especially. Maybe I was born with a passion for sports-related, physical activities. Grade school to college, I was in varsity. Then PBL and PBA. My early training played a big role. I knew how to dribble at a very young age. That was an advantage. In terms of work habits, I developed self-discipline. I sleep early, no night-outs. My body is used to that. No smoking. Until now, my body is used to that. I can’t even sleep later than 9 or 10 p.m."
JAMES YAP: Foot work is important.
James Yap, who was on the basketball court long before he courted and won the heart of actress/talk show host Kris Aquino, declares: "I was into a lot of sports as early as in grade two, like high jump, track and field, football. Our house was very near a basketball court, so after practicing track and field, football and baseball, I’d go to the court to play basketball. I enjoyed basketball a lot because almost all my peers played. The impact of the early training is tremendous. I only realize it now, but all my sports training as a kid helped. In track and field, you need to run fast as in basketball. Football taught me foot work, high jump. Same in basketball, foot work is needed. I’ve realized that everything I did when I was young was a good preparation for my basketball now.
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