Kings of the UAAP Court
May 1, 2002 | 12:00am
The PBA is for the oldies. The PBL is for the low profile. And the MBA is for the relatively unknown. With all due respect to these multi-million basketball ball leagues, "the game" is still reserved for the fastest, flashiest, and freshest players around...the young UAAP bunch. With every university stadium packed and all the loyal girly groupies in line, who can argue? Yes, the spirit of the UAAP is, indeed, alive.
I admit having a UAAP dream, but let’s face it, the only thing I have in common with these hard-playing athletes is the pair of rubber shoes in my closet, which, fact is, I hardly use. That’s why when a Q&A bout between these ball-busting blokes and an irrelevant b-ball amateur like myself was arranged, I couldn’t help but brace myself for the biggest tournament of my life. And no doubt that I will play hard, armed with controversial question offensives on the side.
Too bad though, no pointers were dished and special training sessions were out of the question, but who cares? I’ll still beat the UAAP crap out of them and all the girls will be proud.
By the time I arrived at the battleground, DLSU’s BJ Manalo and Mike Cortez, ADMU’s Andrew Cruz and Alfred Antonio, and Adamson’s Mark Abadia and Richard Alonzo were already getting their makeup done, an ironic scenario I won’t get to see on a regular play day. So, without further ado, let the games begin…
THREE-POINT TEAMWORK
How important is teamwork?
Alfred: If you’re gonna join a team sport, your motivation for that sport has to be the team. If you’re thinking of yourself, you might as well join singles tennis or golf. But if you join basketball, you have to put the team before yourself.
Andrew: And it really helps if you have people, especially teammates cheering you on. They give you that extra boost!
Are star players loved by the team?
BJ: I think that we’re on the team to perform and reach our goal, which is to win the game and the championship. So, in our team, there are no starters, star players,benchwarmers... only roles to play!
Andrew: I think that there’s always gonna be a star player. Of course, he’s going to deserve more minutes on the court, he’s gonna be seen more and be more in the limelight. It’s a team sport, so you have to accept it.
Do you have in-team rivalries?
Mike: I think that every player wants to play, but it’s up to the coach since he knows who can help the team more. We don’t take it personally. It’s more like healthy competition.
What do you talk about inside the locker rooms?
Andrew: Actually, before the games, the locker room has a relaxed atmosphere. We try not to joke around too much yet try not to be serious. We talk about the game plan. The main concern is that we’re focused. If we lose, we keep to ourselves and reflect on what happened.
Alfred: Girlfriends are also a part of the locker-room drama, but like Andrew said, we try not to fool around too much!
What do you do as a team before the start of every game?
BJ: The game is like a test. We browse through our notes, review our game plan, summarize the week’s practice, and motivate each other.
Mike: And we pray before the start of every game, during halftime, and before the start of every conference!
The end of the first quarter. Things are just getting harder and we’re not even halfway. Watch me move, as they stutter!
SLAM-DUNK PERSONALS
Some of you have steady relationships. How do you manage to balance balling with a little loving?
Andrew: We have to compromise time with our friends sometimes, especially in going out. In relationships, you have to bring time management into the picture.
What would break a star player?
Alfred: It would break the star player if he puts himself before the team. The team will see it if you’re hogging the ball or if you’re not following the coach’s instructions. And if that shows, you’re basically destroying yourself, star player or not. You are, in Coach Joe’s terms, "the anay of the group!"
What is winning to you?
Mike: Not losing to Ateneo [Laughs].
Alfred: Winning to me is being able to do what you’re intended to do, being able to do what you practiced, and playing your utmost best. As long as you carry out the game plan with your best effort, whatever the score is, it would still feel like a victory.
Do rivalries stay inside the court? Do you have friends from opposing teams?
Mike: Yes, but on the court, it’s a different thing because you don’t want to lose. You’re representing your school and your family. The friendships stay outside the court and shouldn’t affect the game!
It’s halftime and things are just getting hotter and heavier. And I’ve just unleashed my game plan: Intrigues, intrigues, and more intrigues. I could just see sweat! And trust me, I’ll show ’em no mercy!
How true is it that steroids are a part of your fitness routine?
Andrew: Steroids? No, man! Just eating well and drinking lots of water! Sometimes, we use dextrose and stuff, but that’s about it! My routine is making sure I have a balanced diet and plenty of rest.
Do you guys have vices? Are you ever allowed to drink, smoke, or go out?
Andrew: Why ask me? I’m the angel of the team! And I have a fractured foot, so I’m basically a home body now!
Alfred: The only thing that our coach allows is beer. Everything else, he doesn’t. And even though we’re allowed to drink beer, we
don’t do it in front of him, out of respect! Don’t get us wrong, we understand our limits.
Mike: Yeah, we get to go out, too, but hardly. We keep our lifestyles healthy. Instead of going out partying, we just spend the time practicing or resting. But that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to have fun!
The rumors of bribery, star-player VIP treatment, and team-player piracy are big UAAP issues. How real are they and how do they affect the whole system?
Alfred: Players are here to play the game and once you take that aspect in, it takes away the joy and the challenge. I’d really like to think that it’s not true, but if it does happen, I’ll just play on. It’s out of our control. And besides, cheaters never prosper, right?
BJ: It’s sad to hear some people doing those kinds of things; but as players, we just have to block those out and just play the game. We just play for the love of the game and those rumors ruin that. It’s sad that there are people who try to make money out of us. Hours of practice are wasted because of it. I just wish that people would stop making those claims and just let us play the game!
Last two minutes, and the games as intense as ever. But judging from the way these guys are answering, we may need to go on overtime. Three points to go, and we’ll see if they get to wear the crown, that is if they play their defenses well! After this, we’ll know what these UAAP boys are made of.
REBOUND ON SCHOOL LIFE
How true is it that UAAP players are accepted into their universities without entrance exams?
Alfred: If you don’t pass the ACET, it doesn’t matter who you are, you can’t get in!
Andrew: I actually had a hard time getting in. I was wait-listed! It’s not really true that the varsity people have the easiest time getting in. Actually, now, we have six new recruits and none of them passed. They’re on wait-list. You see, the school puts priority on academics.
As representatives of your school, are you ever hailed as heroes?
Alfred: I don’t think we’re ever hailed as heroes. Actually, every time we play a game, alaskado kami, no matter if we win or lose. Everyone just watches every aspect of the game, especially the teachers. When I go to class, patay na!
Andrew: We get no considerations! Most teachers go by the rules and sometimes, they even make it harder for you. If you’re a player, they say, "Akala mo kung sino ka, ah!" and they’d give you extra load!
BJ: Heroes? We’re not heroes! We’re just ordinary students doing extraordinary things!
As for priorities, which is more important to you, winning the championship or acing the final exams?
Mike: Depends on what subject. I think I prioritize acing the final exams more because without school, we won’t be able to play. And if ever we fail, that could break us!
I admit having a UAAP dream, but let’s face it, the only thing I have in common with these hard-playing athletes is the pair of rubber shoes in my closet, which, fact is, I hardly use. That’s why when a Q&A bout between these ball-busting blokes and an irrelevant b-ball amateur like myself was arranged, I couldn’t help but brace myself for the biggest tournament of my life. And no doubt that I will play hard, armed with controversial question offensives on the side.
Too bad though, no pointers were dished and special training sessions were out of the question, but who cares? I’ll still beat the UAAP crap out of them and all the girls will be proud.
By the time I arrived at the battleground, DLSU’s BJ Manalo and Mike Cortez, ADMU’s Andrew Cruz and Alfred Antonio, and Adamson’s Mark Abadia and Richard Alonzo were already getting their makeup done, an ironic scenario I won’t get to see on a regular play day. So, without further ado, let the games begin…
THREE-POINT TEAMWORK
How important is teamwork?
Alfred: If you’re gonna join a team sport, your motivation for that sport has to be the team. If you’re thinking of yourself, you might as well join singles tennis or golf. But if you join basketball, you have to put the team before yourself.
Andrew: And it really helps if you have people, especially teammates cheering you on. They give you that extra boost!
Are star players loved by the team?
BJ: I think that we’re on the team to perform and reach our goal, which is to win the game and the championship. So, in our team, there are no starters, star players,benchwarmers... only roles to play!
Andrew: I think that there’s always gonna be a star player. Of course, he’s going to deserve more minutes on the court, he’s gonna be seen more and be more in the limelight. It’s a team sport, so you have to accept it.
Do you have in-team rivalries?
Mike: I think that every player wants to play, but it’s up to the coach since he knows who can help the team more. We don’t take it personally. It’s more like healthy competition.
What do you talk about inside the locker rooms?
Andrew: Actually, before the games, the locker room has a relaxed atmosphere. We try not to joke around too much yet try not to be serious. We talk about the game plan. The main concern is that we’re focused. If we lose, we keep to ourselves and reflect on what happened.
Alfred: Girlfriends are also a part of the locker-room drama, but like Andrew said, we try not to fool around too much!
What do you do as a team before the start of every game?
BJ: The game is like a test. We browse through our notes, review our game plan, summarize the week’s practice, and motivate each other.
Mike: And we pray before the start of every game, during halftime, and before the start of every conference!
The end of the first quarter. Things are just getting harder and we’re not even halfway. Watch me move, as they stutter!
SLAM-DUNK PERSONALS
Some of you have steady relationships. How do you manage to balance balling with a little loving?
Andrew: We have to compromise time with our friends sometimes, especially in going out. In relationships, you have to bring time management into the picture.
What would break a star player?
Alfred: It would break the star player if he puts himself before the team. The team will see it if you’re hogging the ball or if you’re not following the coach’s instructions. And if that shows, you’re basically destroying yourself, star player or not. You are, in Coach Joe’s terms, "the anay of the group!"
What is winning to you?
Mike: Not losing to Ateneo [Laughs].
Alfred: Winning to me is being able to do what you’re intended to do, being able to do what you practiced, and playing your utmost best. As long as you carry out the game plan with your best effort, whatever the score is, it would still feel like a victory.
Do rivalries stay inside the court? Do you have friends from opposing teams?
Mike: Yes, but on the court, it’s a different thing because you don’t want to lose. You’re representing your school and your family. The friendships stay outside the court and shouldn’t affect the game!
It’s halftime and things are just getting hotter and heavier. And I’ve just unleashed my game plan: Intrigues, intrigues, and more intrigues. I could just see sweat! And trust me, I’ll show ’em no mercy!
How true is it that steroids are a part of your fitness routine?
Andrew: Steroids? No, man! Just eating well and drinking lots of water! Sometimes, we use dextrose and stuff, but that’s about it! My routine is making sure I have a balanced diet and plenty of rest.
Do you guys have vices? Are you ever allowed to drink, smoke, or go out?
Andrew: Why ask me? I’m the angel of the team! And I have a fractured foot, so I’m basically a home body now!
Alfred: The only thing that our coach allows is beer. Everything else, he doesn’t. And even though we’re allowed to drink beer, we
don’t do it in front of him, out of respect! Don’t get us wrong, we understand our limits.
Mike: Yeah, we get to go out, too, but hardly. We keep our lifestyles healthy. Instead of going out partying, we just spend the time practicing or resting. But that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to have fun!
The rumors of bribery, star-player VIP treatment, and team-player piracy are big UAAP issues. How real are they and how do they affect the whole system?
Alfred: Players are here to play the game and once you take that aspect in, it takes away the joy and the challenge. I’d really like to think that it’s not true, but if it does happen, I’ll just play on. It’s out of our control. And besides, cheaters never prosper, right?
BJ: It’s sad to hear some people doing those kinds of things; but as players, we just have to block those out and just play the game. We just play for the love of the game and those rumors ruin that. It’s sad that there are people who try to make money out of us. Hours of practice are wasted because of it. I just wish that people would stop making those claims and just let us play the game!
Last two minutes, and the games as intense as ever. But judging from the way these guys are answering, we may need to go on overtime. Three points to go, and we’ll see if they get to wear the crown, that is if they play their defenses well! After this, we’ll know what these UAAP boys are made of.
REBOUND ON SCHOOL LIFE
How true is it that UAAP players are accepted into their universities without entrance exams?
Alfred: If you don’t pass the ACET, it doesn’t matter who you are, you can’t get in!
Andrew: I actually had a hard time getting in. I was wait-listed! It’s not really true that the varsity people have the easiest time getting in. Actually, now, we have six new recruits and none of them passed. They’re on wait-list. You see, the school puts priority on academics.
As representatives of your school, are you ever hailed as heroes?
Alfred: I don’t think we’re ever hailed as heroes. Actually, every time we play a game, alaskado kami, no matter if we win or lose. Everyone just watches every aspect of the game, especially the teachers. When I go to class, patay na!
Andrew: We get no considerations! Most teachers go by the rules and sometimes, they even make it harder for you. If you’re a player, they say, "Akala mo kung sino ka, ah!" and they’d give you extra load!
BJ: Heroes? We’re not heroes! We’re just ordinary students doing extraordinary things!
As for priorities, which is more important to you, winning the championship or acing the final exams?
Mike: Depends on what subject. I think I prioritize acing the final exams more because without school, we won’t be able to play. And if ever we fail, that could break us!
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