One-handed wonder boy

I’m really blessed in my line of work, because I’m never lacking for inspiration. And every time I think I’ve seen everything, someone comes along and tugs at my heart with a new extreme of poignancy.

Napoleon Joseph "Sep" Miranda III is just like any other 11year old. He has boundless energy that fuels his ready smile. He loves basketball, and is the center of San Beda’s Small Basketeers team. In fact, you almost won’t notice what makes him special. Sep Miranda was born without a left hand.

"It’s really inborn," explains Sep’s father, Napoleon Miranda Jr., more popularly known as the husband of the character "Lumen" on a popular detergent commercial. "I was very sad when he came out. That’s why I didn’t tell my wife at first, so she could recover from the caesarian section."

It was particularly frustrating for the older Miranda, who played in the NCAA with San Miguel Beer’s Boybits Victoria back in 1988. But the dark cloud hid a silver lining. One day, Nap videotaped his twoyear old Sep playing basketball, even holding the ball in the crook of his incomplete arm.

"From that day, I could see the steady development of his skills. I saw how he excels in sports like basketball, swimming, anything. And at least I see how happy he is."

Of course, kids imitating adults as they do, it couldn’t be avoided that they would pick on Sep’s supposed disability.

"I don’t listen to them," Sep confesses with a wisdom beyond his years. "I just play my game."

"That was my fear; that’s why I was sad. Just tying his shoes gives him a hard time. So when he was three years old, I told him that was what Jesus gave him, so he shouldn’t get mad. I explained everything in a positive way. I told him he can show his skill in basketball, even if he only has one hand."

Sep runs the floor very well, and works hard on defense. Cradling the ball in his right hand and guiding it with the stump of his left, he’s also developed a pretty good outside shot.

"For me, he’s a trueblooded lion," testifies Sep’s coach, former national player and Red Lion Britt Reroma. "He’s got a big heart. In spite of his disability, we motivate him to play. Anyway, basketball is about heart. Talentwise, he’s got it."

And nobody seems to have told Sep that he has any limitations. He dreams of being a commercial model like his father, and a PBA player, like his Tito Boybits.

"I give him what he needs, I attend his practices. Most of all, his father and I remind him that his studies remain number one," explains the young cub’s mother, Lani. "We love him."

When asked how he deals with having only one hand, Sep, who incidentally teaches his two younger brothers hoops, answers plainly.

"I don’t mind it, because this is what God gave me. I’ll just keep playing and practicing well."

Brave young Sep Miranda would put a lot of fullbodied, fully grown players to shame.

Catch the full story, and highlights from the PBA AllStar Game on The Basketball Show on ABC 5 at 3 p.m.