There’s more to sports

Pinoys’ hunger for hoop action is always insatiable.

The Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) kicked off its second season last Aug. 22 with a simple opening ceremony at the Loyola Gym. Dean Raul Addatu of host school, Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA) opened the festivities by pointing out that the league is an extension of the classroom in educating the students.

Indeed, the world of sports is not just about entertainment. Behind every victory and defeat lie the process of evolving and the struggles that teach one different values in life: self-discipline, teamwork, honesty, and a lot more. Respect for rules is probably one of the most important values athletes should pick up from sports because our lives are governed by several sets of laws and regulations to follow each day.

The first game between PSBA and NCBA showed the enthusiasm and fervor of the players on the court as well as the fans in the stands who came in full support of their school, despite the day being a non-working holiday. They shrieked and screamed at every ball possession. They cheered for every basket as if it were the winning shot. Simply put, the public’s enthusiasm for basketball will never run dry. As such, there will always be room for leagues that aim to showcase and develop fresh talents.

Tisha Abundo, chairman of the UCAA board said it well when she stressed that the young league does not aim to compete against the more known collegiate leagues. UCAA, like the rest of them, hopes to give aspiring cagers the exposure and experience they need to boost their confidence in their game.

Yancy de Ocampo, first over-all pick in the 2002 PBA draft, and younger brother Ranidel, who is currently playing for the national team, are two of the finest produce of St. Francis de Assisi, a member school of the UCAA.

UCAA is also a road to the Champions’ League, the eagerly-awaited war among the winners of the different collegiate leagues.

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Meanwhile the third conference of the PBA has started. Despite the controversies and problems that plagued the first two, it’s good to note that its millions of fans are alive once again. After a brief rest, they are once again ready to support their favorite professional basketball league. Here’s a letter from one of them:

My real name is Quiel Delgado and I work for MCI Philippines in Makati. I am an avid fan of the PBA and I have been following this league since its inception in 1975.

The PBA brings entertainment and inspiration. At least this is what it has provided its fans from the very beginning. The struggle for the ball is always likened to the struggle in life where victory is claimed not necessarily by the most talented but by the one who " wants" it more.

The PBA also brings hope to its millions of followers. We have seen average teams who became disciplined, united and focused to become the eventual champions. Who can ever forget the time when U-tex broke the Crispa-Toyota dynasty and won the title in dramatic fashion? We concluded that if it can be done in basketball, winning over the "big" guy can also be done in real life.

The PBA has also taught us never to give up until the final whistle is blown. We have seen teams in the past rally from 20 points down in the 4th quarter to eventually win the game. This has taught us persistence and perseverance. It has inspired us not to give up on life that easily and fight it out till the end.

Sad to say, the passion in today’s game is dying. Except for a few players, majority seem to be just going through the motions and are not playing every game as if it were their last. We need more Samboy’s and Big J’s who gave us the example and sacrificed life and limb in every ballgame that they played. The fans feed off this passion, enthusiasm and energy. The fans are the lifeblood of any sport. Without the fan’s support, it will result to any sport’s slow death.

However, there is hope while there is still life left in us. I hope this becomes a wake up call for everybody concerned to admit that there is a problem, agree on a solution and do something about it. Rest assured that we will be there to support anything and everything that will bring life back to our PBA!!

It’s always good to start anything on a positive note!

This was posted on the boards at www.jannelleso.com. Globe subscribers may also reach this writer through text, key in <JANNELLE> and send to 2978.