More readers react

Reactions beget reactions.

This writer has been deluged with e-mails from Filipino basketball fans from all over the globe in reactions to the query posed in a previous piece. Is there too much basketball in the Philippines? The responses either way have been emphatic and emotional.

Antonio "Boyet" Dones, chief of the Billinga Management Office of the Philippine Postal Corporation ([email protected]) passionately proclaims that:

"There is not too much basketball for me. Why? As the old saying goes "In every game there is a new one being played".

"I started playing the sport in 1973 inspired by the National team’s winning of the 1973 Asian Basketball Championships in Manila.

"I became a die-hard NBA fanatic in 1975 and followed religiously the championship series between the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Bullets that year in which the Warriors won in a four (4) game sweep. My first NBA hero was Rick Barry. The year saw the birth of the PBA and the visit of a 32-man NBA all-star team that played with the local PBA clubs in June of the same year. And who can forget the visit of the NBA Salem selection and the North Carolina Wolfpack in 1974 that played a couple of exhibition games against the Teheran-bound RP Asiad team at the big dome.

"What triggered my desire to go back to basketball is the birth of Basketball TV. It was a dream come true for every true blooded cage fanatic. Having the NBA, Euro League, US NCAA and the Australian NBL on TV night in and night out is simply a blast! Since then I began to buy again various NBA preview magazines and regularly surf the net for all the latest happenings in the basketball world.

"From now on I honestly believe that I will never have too much of basketball. I am what you call a basketball junkie and a diehard fanatic. I consider basketball as my second love after my wife of course."

I’m glad that’s clear, Boyet. Meanwhile, on the other side of the fence, there’s Winston Tan ([email protected]), who laments:

"Yes there is much basketball indeed today. There’s NBA, Euro League and FIBA tournaments Baskeball TV, there’s PBA in ABC 5 and NCAA, UAAP, Champions League in Studio 23. Few months ago, I watch a replay of Purefoods versus San Miguel All-Filipino Finals (cannot remember what year was that though) which featured Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Boy Cabahug, Dwight Lago and Abe King in Purefoods line-up and San Miguel featuring Samboy Lim, Mon Fernandez, Yves Dignadice, Ato Agustin and Hector Calma. There’s just a different feeling when PBA was the only local league we follow. Now, it is a bit boring to watch NBA as there are no great rivalries anymore. When I was in elementary, it was Lakers and Celtics. Then the Bad Boys of Pistons in early 90’s, then the Rockets and then the Bulls.

"I don’t know but for me, basketball has been boring as of late especially that we are still banned by FIBA. Boring because there are many champions in different leagues. Why can’t the country unite NCAA, UAAP and other collegiate leagues as one league. Just like NCAA in the United States. My idea is to make college basketball’s format like the Davis Cup in tennis where the worst standing in Division 1 will fight for the slot with the best of Division 2. Just an idea."

Thanks, Winston. An even more enthusiastic response in the negative is provided by Alex Etcuban ([email protected]), who writes:

"It’s ridiculous to the point that anyone in our country can do whatever he or she wishes.Yes, there’s too much basketball in the country. As if it’s the only sport men or women can play. As if it’s the only sport where advertisers and sponsors can make money.Like in any section of our country, anything goes.To put it bluntly, anarchy! No systematic plan or sports program to follow, no calendar. With the funny proliferation of

basketball leagues in our country, it’s ironic that our FIBA ranking is abysmal, imagine, Thailand ranked higher than us! It only confirms as well our damaged culture.Even in choosing our sport to play, we chose a sport were we cannot excel. Basketball is for tall

people, we are not a tall race. Football is a sport where we can be good.But no one gives a damn about it.That’s how ridiculous we are as a people."

Then there’s the welcome, concise response from former KBS sports broadcaster Carlos "Caloy" Prieto ([email protected]), now a resident of New Jersey in the eastern United States.

"The main reason why basketball is immensely popular in the Philippines just as it is in the poor neighborhoods in the U.S. is economics. This is a sport that does not require gear or gadgets. A pair of sneakers or rubber shoes as we call them back home is all a kid needs to be able to play with 9 others in a public court and of course a ball that’s very affordable. One ball for 10 kids and that’s it. It’s practically free and it’s a great spectator sport since it’s fast paced and high scoring. Soccer you might argue is in the same category, but why it isn’t popular back home is the same reason that it’s not here in the U.S. It’s a low-scoring game and is limited to the use of one’s lower limbs. It also requires shoes with cleats so one has to bring an extra pair of shoes to go home in."

Lastly, here’s the two cents of diehard Purefoods Chunkee Giants fan Rey A. Kagahastian ([email protected]), who writes all the way from USAID in Afghanistan.

"I am an addict fan of the Philippine Basketball Association (P.B.A.) and an avid supporter of the Purefoods Chunkee Giants ever since they joined the PBA. Dito sa Afghanistan, I can not watch the PBA games here all I get the results of the games is with the Philstar thru the Internet."

I guess it depends where you are, too.

Thanks to all of you who wrote in. Keep the messages coming through [email protected]. On Monday, this writer will announce a new forum where you can send in your heartfelt opinions on issues, personalities and events in sports.