Two years … and a lifetime

Two years seem like a lifetime in the fast-moving world of Philippine basketball. Think about it. Two years ago, the Metropolitan Basketball Association was close to becoming a permanent part of the hoops landscape. Then financial mismanagement caused it to blink out of existence.

Two years ago, there was a long-standing struggle for the presidency of the Basketball Association of the Philippines, which caused the country to be banned from the ABC Men’s Championship. Two years ago, Sonny Alvarado was a part of the PBA’s Mythical Team before being discovered to be a fraud. Two years ago, Tanduay caused a stir in the PBA. Two years ago, the FedEx Express stepped into their place. In the last two years, Batang Red Bull accomplished a meteoric and preposterous rise to the championship, and, outrageously enough, were exceeded in speed by the Coca-Cola Tigers. In the last two years, the rivalry between De La Salle and Ateneo hit force of nature status. In the last two years, Asi Taulava and Eric Menk went from being practically personae non grata to starters on the Philippine team. In that same time span, the RP Youth team went from being embarrassed in its version of the SEABA to now being the seedbed for all future Philippine teams.

How do we know all this? Because two years ago, The Basketball Show was born.

I always hoped that the politically disparate leagues in the Philippines would somehow settle their roiling differences and become one unit, much like the five players on a basketball court. Initially, advertisers and even the leagues themselves couldn’t envision how it could be done. But I always knew we could be part of the same team.

This Saturday, at 4 p.m. over IBC-13, The Basketball Show celebrates its second anniversary. Many heartfelt thanks to the network’s management for their faith, and to friends like adidas Philippines, Columbia International Foods, Red Horse Extra Strong Beer, and Accel Sports Gear for being part of the team.

And thanks especially for all the fans all over the country and in North America and the Middle East for believing that we could overcome all our differences and set an example for other sports to follow. Here are just a handful of them.

– Chelsea Estoquia ([email protected]):

"I’d like to thank you for providing us with a great show such as this. I, personally, am very grateful that at last we can now enjoy our very own all-basketball show.Before there’s only the NBA JAM & NBA Action to watch but now we are provided with an alternative show. I really love your show and I’d love to see it succeed.

"I hope you can have an interview with Danny Seigle.It’s been quite a while since I last saw him and I really want to know when he’ll be able to play for the Beermen. In addition to that, we would like also to know him better like we want to know how he was as a kid and his family.We’ve already seen his brothers and parents but not his sisters. Since I am currently out of the country, I hope you can put everything in your Philippine Star column which I always read."

– Jay Batimana ([email protected]):

"I am one of the regular viewers of The Basketball Show and I love the segments Red Horse Extra Strong Move and Slam Book. By the way could you please feature Jimmy Alapag in your Slam Book? I know he is just a rookie but I think he has what it takes to be called the Most Valuable Player. There’s just something about him that pulls his team together …and I really admire him for that, also for his calmness and composure during every game, and the way he gets his teammates involved and cooperates with them. No wonder now he leads the league in assists. and I believe he will go a long way in his basketball career."

– Oscar Espinas ([email protected]):

"To all the staff of this great show: I’m watching it every Saturday, and I really love it kasi mahilig ako sa basketball, malapit na pala ang inyong 2nd year anniversary.

– Ryan Supersticioso (fredprinz@ yahoo.com):

"I’m a basketball fanatic; an avid viewer of your program, and I must say that you got all the facts I need to know about the local basketball scene. I know your show will stay long ‘cause it’s fun and informative and the same time. Can you feature the 16 teams for the upcoming NCAA and UAAP, their players and sportscasters? I graduated from Letran and I really love watching both leagues."