Chinese-Filipino hoopsters and their customs

MANILA, Philippines – Chinese Filipinos, who make up nearly two percent – approximately 1.5 million – of the Filipino population, are well represented in different sectors in Philippine society. Sports is no exception, with a handful of Fil-Chinese athletes standing out and making a name for themselves in their respective fields.

In observance of the Chinese New Year, we are featuring two popular basketball players of Chinese descent – one professional and the other in the amateur ranks. Here we explored the various traditions they follow either on or off the court.

TY Tang of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers’ Jeric Teng are among the most recognizable Fil-Chinese basketball personalities today. In separate interviews with philstar.com, the two soft-spoken cagers shared the Chinese customs they follow on and off the court.

Round-bound

The Chinese are fond of round-shaped goods during the Chinese New Year, as these may bring good luck. Tang’s family makes sure they’re not in short of round foods during the occasion.

"Usually, we have a family dinner on New Year's Eve. Before that, may mga inaalay kaming mga round foods as we enter the new year and para na rin may food ang mga departed relatives namin. Kasi ang bilog sa Chinese means infinity or hindi nag-e-end," the 5-foot-10 point guard told philstar.com.

"Siyempre hindi rin nawawala ang tikoy. Bilog din yun atsaka sticky. Sinisimbolo niya ang family na mag-stick together," he added.

Born Tyrone Conrad Tang on Sept. 25, 1984, TY, as he is popularly known, is the son of Chinese nationals, making him 100 percent Chinese born in Manila. He played high school ball at Xavier School, one of the top Chinese schools in the country that has produced a number of standout Fil-Chinese players like Joseph Yeo and Tang’s close buddy and teammate Chris Tiu.

Tang went on to play for La Salle in the UAAP and was later selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2008 PBA Draft by the Welcoat Dragons. Throughout his career, Tang and his family are a devout practitioners of common Chinese traditions.

On the court, Tang says he has some beliefs, which, though not necessarily influenced by his Chinese heritage, he tries to follow as much as possible.

"Pagdating sa laro, wala naman ako rituals. More of pamahiin like kung manalo kami, kung ano ang kinain ko the night before, yun ulit ang kakainin ko or kung ano ginawa ko, yun ulit gagawin ko,” Tang said.

What about after a loss?

“Pag natalo, iiwasan ko or papalitan ko ang routine ko, what I did the night before," he continued.

Tang is as successful off the court as he is on it – Rain or Shine has recently won a PBA title with him as one of its vital cogs. A Business Management graduate, he operates his own painting contractor business. All this triumph, he believes, is due in part to him and his family sticking to traditional Chinese customs.

Chinese Tiger

For Jeric Teng of the UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP, pre-game customs range from seeking blessing from Chinese statues to even offering game apparel for luck.

“We usually go to Chinese temples a day before the game,” said Jeric, who along with brother Jeron of the De La Salle Green Archers form the competitive Teng brothers in the UAAP.

The son of PBA legend Alvin Teng, Jeric is also a product of Xavier School. The co-captain of UST Tigers will return for his fifth and last UAAP season this year, hoping to lead the Espana-based cagers to a championship.

Jeric says he and his brother usually have their uniforms blessed before plunging into action.

“Then we have these Chinese statues or something where we usually pray before leaving the house on a game day. We also offer the shoes and uniforms we have before we use them,” said the 6-foot-2 shooting guard.

The Teng family, like most Filipino-Chinese families in the country, values close ties. This year, Jeric said nothing changes as far as their celebration of the Chinese New Year is concerned.

“The Chinese community in the Philippines is big. I am happy how we are very family-oriented and how everyone knows each other. I think most of us are role models in the sense that we are very open to meeting new people. And of course, Chinese are very good with business,” Jeric explained.

So how does the Teng family plan to welcome the new year?

“We’ll eat dinner together as a family in a Chinese restaurant, all wearing red. Then we’ll go to many Chinese temples at night,” he said.

As the new year means turning a new page in life for most Filipinos, for TY Tang, Jeric and Teng and other Filipino-Chinese athletes, it is an opportunity to improve on their careers and become better human beings.

“The new year itself is always memorable because it signifies new hope for all of us,” Teng said.