I used to be a shameless, hardcore, die-hard local basketball fan.

The fanaticism for the sport began in the late ’80s, when I fell in love with Shell’s then-rookie, Benjie Paras. I had clippings of Benjie’s photos from newspapers and magazines kept in a small security-number-protected cashbox. I wrote him letters typed on perfumed stationery, using the conventional Ta-ka-tak typewriter. Barely four feet tall at the time, my admiration for the player was way bigger than myself.

My dad was a huge Añejo/ Ginebra fan then, though. He’d sometimes take us to Ultra to watch live games. It didn’t take long for me to catch on the never-say-die spirit of the team and its leader, Robert Jaworski. Through my father’s influence, I eventually turned from a Shell devotee to an Añejo convert.

Rudy Distrito’s winning lay-up in Game 7 of the 1991 Ginebra win over Shell would forever remain as one of my all-time favorite basketball memories.

Then in the mid-nineties, I started high school and got too engrossed in extra-curricular activities. Basketball took a backseat.

The fanaticism was back with a vengeance in 1996, though. PBA newbies, Bal David and Marlou Aquino joined Ginebra. It was a very potent Center-Point combination made ever stronger with power forward, Noli Locsin and big guard, Vince Hizon. In 1997, Ginebra/Gordon’s Gin won the championship again, and I was beside myself with glee.

My love for basketball went beyond the PBA—when I got to UP in 1996. I became an instant UP Maroons fan. And, as luck would have it, my closest friends from my freshman block were crazy over basketball as well.

UP was never known to be a basketball powerhouse (unlike UST or La Salle back in then). However, the Maroons lineup in 1996 did not disappoint. I can still remember the main players: Paolo Mendoza, Allan Gamboa, Bryan Gahol, Bing Victoria, Dexter Racho, Ogie Gumatay. Their coach then was Eric Altamirano, before he was replaced by Nick Jorge in 1997 or 1998.

Benjie Paras (14) lays-up a basket for the UP Maroons.

My friends and I closely followed the games (and the players!). After class, even though none of us had cars then, we would catch a UP-Katipunan jeep and head to Ateneo to watch the games. During big matches, we’d troop all the way to Araneta Coliseum or Rizal Stadium in Taft just to cheer the UP team. Being freshmen, our classes were mostly in the AS Building, but since the players were mostly sophomores, we’d often see them, too! We memorized the floors and times when there were ‘player sightings’ and casually pass by, hoping to catch a glimpse.

Some players were frat members or part of the sosyal crowd, and would often be seen hanging out at the AS lobby, where all the coño people often were. My friends and I would walk back and forth in the lobby, giggling and whispering as we stole glances at the burly fellows seated on the benches.

All we talked about was basketball, basketball, basketball! I don’t know how we managed to do it, but we somehow got hold of some of the Maroons’ home numbers and, like lovesick idiots, we actually called them up! We’d give fake names and fake reasons for calling. We’d ring their phones, listen to their voices, and hang up. During our first barkada Christmas party, we called up a player and took turns talking to him. The guy indulged us, praise heavens. But I still cringe to this day when I remember that night. Shameless fanaticism, all right!

During the first semester of my second year, I took Cheerleading for my PE. Oh no, no, no, don’t get me wrong! In UP, Cheer Dancing is different from Cheerleading. Cheerleading is the PE class where the only physical task you have to perform is to bring yourself to wherever the UP team is playing, and have a pep squad member sign your ticket. That’s it! Boy, did I ace that subject. I watched almost all of the Maroons’ games during that UAAP season.

And here is a very fantastic event. I used to work as a cashier in Jollibee-Philcoa. During one night shift, I was flabbergasted to see THE Paolo Mendoza walking toward the counter. I swear I could actually feel my mouth dropping wide open as he approached. But that is far from being the best part of the story.

The best part of the story is, Paolo was soon joined by another Maroon. And another. And another. Then some of the coaching staff. All of them, standing in front of me, looking at the products listed overhead, giving me their orders. I probably looked like a total fool, smiling from ear to ear as I filled soft drink cups and called out orders to the kitchen crew and arranged fries and burgers on the tray. That was perhaps the biggest single transaction I ever handled in my Jollibee career. (Career daw o!) And it was hands-down the most delightful!

When I shifted from Economics to Broadcast Communication during the second semester of 1997, I’d often see the players in the Mass Communication building (a handful of them were film majors). Sadly, my interest in basketball-watching had waned significantly by then. My focus had shifted from basketball to my college org, Broad Association, and my major subjects. Add to that the sad fact that the UP Maroons had more losses than wins. The situation has remained sad ever since.

Even now, in my late twenties, I am still hoping for a UP championship. There are days when I wished I were in UP during the late ’80s or early ’90s when the Maroons, led by Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, and Eric Altamirano, lorded it over all other teams and won the UAAP cup. I long for the day when UP will be known for brawn and not just brains. These are not contradictory qualities.

I can still recall how we’d (rather bitterly) shout at students from the other schools during games when UP was obviously about to lose: “Quiz Bee na lang!” And such is the UP bravado. Talo na nga, ang yabang pa rin.

I never imagined that a childhood passion would make my college life a whole lot more interesting. On a deeper, more significant level, it was through love for basketball that I met the best friends I still keep to this day. If only for the wonderful friendship and memories made through the sport, I can honestly claim that basketball defined more than half of my UP stay. Yes, even if most events occurred as I watched on the sidelines.

I guess the line that goes, “Life’s a ball” holds more meaning for me than I can ever begin to explain.

The author is an AB Broadcast Communication ‘01 graduate and is Creative Services Junior Manager, Pilipinas International Marketing Services, Inc.

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