Afril Bernardino: For flag and future

Women’s basketball has not gotten a fair shake in the Philippines. Ironically, in the early years of the game, it was Filipinas who first took to hoops, playing outdoors or in open fields wearing long skirts and heeled shoes.

Despite its remarkable progress in recent years, the average fan would be hard-pressed to name even just the starting unit of the women’s national team, which itself was embroiled in controversy just a couple of years ago.

Still, they toil on, unmindful of whether or not stories are written about them, unmindful of whether or not people recognize them as they walk down the street. That’s not why they do it. That’s not why they play.

Afril Bernardino has been one of the most outstanding female players of the new millennium, arguably one of the best of all time. The 5’8”, 22-year old former National University Lady Bulldog has done it all. She’s represented the country in the FIBA Asia Women’s Championship, the SEABA championship, and multiple SEA Games. In the UAAP, she and Gemma Miranda made NU an unassailable powerhouse, winning multiple championships and Most Valuable Player trophies between them, even sweeping the tournament.

“I learned basketball when I was at home. Papa let me watch the story of Michael Jordan and how he started,” Afril told The Star. “I really wanted to imitate his moves, it was inspiring, that’s why, when I tried out for NU, I really worked hard and followed all my coaches’ instructions, from the easiest to the most difficult until I was so tired, and I kept dreaming of getting better.”

That try-out was burned forever into her memory. Her father, a Land Transportation Office official, had to work doubly hard to buy her a decent pair of shoes for her first major try-out. She had been recruited from Cainta by coach and former national player Julie Amos after the Palarong Pambansa earlier this decade. Then, she had no proper playing shoes. Her parents found a way. She never forgot it.

“When NU recruited me, that started everything,” Bernardino admitted. “Also, I wanted to help my family.”

Now, Bernardino and Miranda are together again, on the Philippine team for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup at the Philippine Arena next month. At first blush, Bernardino was overjoyed to be named to the squad. The challenge will be daunting.

The top 20 teams in the world will be here. Most will be bigger, stronger, more experienced. But there is no doubt that none will be tougher. And none will be more confident, because none of the others will be playing at home. None will believe more strongly that they will win.

“In my opinion, yes, if everyone will be positive, because our opponents are really tough. But we will keep up with them,” Bernardino declares. “We all practice hard so this will be a great competition. We practice hard and are determined to win for our country.”

But that is not their highest purpose. The win they are after is much bigger, much more impactful, much more enduring.

“It will broaden the minds of Filipino citizens on how it really is to play 3x3, and for them to patronize the game,” Bernardino says, revealing the big picture. “And we in the Philippines will be recognized by having the FIBA here.”

The irony is not lost on Afril and her teammates. In a nation where basketball is king, where every street and community center has a basketball court, the women’s game is a far second. There are dozens of hours of basketball on television in the Philippines each week, among the highest in the world. None of that time is devoted to the women’s game. Yet, women’s volleyball has leapfrogged women’s basketball in the last five years. Ratings are high, players are getting six-figure salaries, foreign reinforcements routinely fly in. The Philippine women’s team is hoping to push the game forward, fast.

The mission is bigger than one tournament, no matter how big. This batch of players might not even see that happen. They may just be the giants whose shoulders the next generation stands on. And that’s okay with them.