How Filipino pro hoopers stay sharp during the offseason

MANILA, Philippines — Basketball is ingrained in the DNA of Filipinos. 

Just walk a little from where you live. Almost certainly, you will see a boy or a girl dribbling a small ball, or a basketball court where sweaty men on barefoot duke it out for “ice tubig”.

The sport has been very much a part of our culture that kids as young as three years old are already showing interest in basketball.

Filipinos of all ages and gender have been trying to become better in the sport.

The level of competition, even at the grassroots level, is already getting better. Every baller is eyeing to be the best they could be and remain sharp so when a court is ahead, shots will fall and ankles will be broken. 

So how can a cager remain sharp? 

Let’s ask professional basketball players how they do so despite the offseason. 

Work, work and work

Phoenix Fuel Masters guard Ricci Rivero said that the secret to staying sharp in the offseason is dedication and hard work.

Phoenix last played in June — almost two months ago as of posting time.

Rivero, who previously played with the Taiwan-based Taoyuan Pilots, said they took a one-month break and with PBA Season 50 still a few months away, he is already starting to work on his conditioning. 

“Sa akin kasi it's really the focus eh, and the dedication and how I badly want to improve on myself… how I badly want to improve, tone my skills and get to where I want to be,” the guard told Philstar.com at the sidelines of NBA star Ja Morant’s "Make Them Watch" event organized by Nike Philippines.

The usual day for Rivero starts at 5 a.m. He packs his things, readies his food (this is very important, Rivero said, but more on that later), and heads to training. 

The 27-year-old crafty scorer stressed that he works on his skills and does extra after. He then goes to another coach to have another training session, and after, he does extra work, again.

“I also do different workouts aside from what we do in training. So those are the things that I do for me to be able to tone my skills and improve,” the guard, who averaged 6.3 points in the recently-concluded PBA Philippine Cup, said. 

“Work, work and work. Non-stop work.”

Grind

For his part, CJ Cansino of the Meralco Bolts in the PBA said the offseason is not just a time to refresh, but also a time to work.

“Noong umpisa, syempre nagbakasyon muna ako, refresh, and then alamin ko ano yung mga kailangan ko improve. After noon, you know, workout, skills,” Cansino, who averaged 10.2 points on 37% shooting in the recent Philippine Cup, told Philstar.com in a separate interview.

“Usually ‘pag mga ganitong walang games, yung nga skills, tapos nagkakaroon din ako ng mga pick-up games. So minsan, twice a day yun, skills and then pick-up games. So yun yung mga ginagawa ko,” he added.

He said that he is trying to make more than 200 baskets per day as he focuses on repetition, to build up his consistency on shooting.

Eating healthy

Both ballers said that aside from working hard, eating right is also important.

Rivero said that during his month-long break, he felt he “had so much food.”

'“Actually yun sa diet ko, medyo tumatanda na rin tayo. I'm not as old but we came from a one-month break so I just felt like I had so much food na hindi dapat,” he said.

“So, never ako nagkaroon ng diet, ngayon lang.”

For his part, Cansino said that he needed to bulk up after his rookie season.

Aside from working on his skills, he emphasized the need for players to eat healthy food to build up muscles so they could go head-to-head with the best of the best.

Get to the next level

Cansino also underscored an important tip for the kids who would want to reach the level he is at.

“Ang tip ko lang, siyempre, alamin nila kung ano yung next level, kasi palaging ganun e. Meron mga next level, na akala mo hanggang diyan ka lang, pero may mga next level pa,” he said.

“So yung mga questions na kailangan mo tanungin sa sarili mo, sa internet, o kung ano man, makikita't makikita nila e.” 

Rivero also gave a piece of advice to the kids trying to make it to the big leagues  — seize the moment.

“Huwag na huwag niyong kakalimutan kung saan kayo nag-start, kung paano kayo nag-start, kung paano kayo nagka-opportunity. And then once you get that opportunity or kahit close to that opportunity, try to, as much as possible, take it,” he said.

“Grab that opportunity and do whatever you can for you to improve, be part of something that you've been looking forward to, things like that. So sa akin yun talaga — hard work and dedication.”