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Philippine basketball is unique not only in the manner
we play it, but also in the places in which we play it.
I guess
that no place in the world can rival the Philippines
when it comes to basketball on the streets, or sandlot
basketball.
While
the US has its jaded public playgrounds where court
legends were bred but remain like untamed stallions, the
Philippines has its makeshift basketball courts that
obstruct often unused or underused streets.
As a
young lad, I have been in some of these courts, playing
basketball the street way over a liter of softdrink or
at the least lusutan (going under the legs of the
winning team). Embarrassing, indeed.
This is
the barangay’s version of the Araneta Coliseum, Ultra or
the Cuneta Astrodome. Or, perhaps, the world-class
basketball courts in the US.
The
floor is colored and painted to look as if it is made of
parquet or costly wood. The boards may be made of wood
but some lucky barangay can get one with fiberglass,
akin to the ones used in indoor basketball courts.
Not only
do these courts try to imitate upscale ones. Even the
players are the smaller version of the game’s biggest
stars.
In our
time, players took the roles of their favorite Crispa or
Toyota stars. A hard-nosed defender may be a Jaworski or
a Cezar, a man who lays it in like playing marbles is
possibly in the mold of a Tuadles or an Arnaiz. A clutch
shooter may be dubbed as an Adornado or Co. A guard with
quick hands is a Fabiosa.
For the
next generation, one may aspire to be a Benjie Paras and
mimic his moves around the paint. Same with an Alvin
Patrimonio. Shoot from rainbow territory like an Allan
Caidic. Defend like a Jerry Codiñera.
Perhaps
today, kids would like to shoot and slash like a James
Yap or score at will like a Caguioa or Helterbrand.
Playing
basketball in the streets puts a child in a world of
utmost physicality. A player weaned on the inside or
covered courts might be shocked at how deep down and
dirty the play could be.
A trip,
a shove, clothesline tackle under the basketball were
the staple on the streets, and perhaps was how some
players ended their careers too early or got tough. The
dictum was only the tough survive basketball in the
streets.
There
are times when some private-school bred students would
take on a group of construction workers at sandlot
courts. The so-called gulang, or street smarts
would be imminent in this case, and could sometimes
cause petty fights.
Well, if
someone asks me if street basketball is a must for those
who would take basketball seriously, then I would answer
yes and no. Yes, because the intense competition is
expected to toughen up a budding player.
And no,
toughening a player can come in others way, like
learning the fundamentals and applying these in a highly
competitive environment.
This
week’s question:
How do I keep my son from playing in street courts where
thugs also abound?
Well,
the idea is to bring him to basketball courts where a
competitive environment is assured and safety is the
primordial concern. My thinking is always that one can
learn basketball in a safe and fair environment. |
