So many people are asking for suggestions on what to give out for Christmas. Here's one idea I got from a cousin in law. Read the article below which I wrote for www.buysalubong.com after the last holidays.
The Pass It On Gift
By Patricia “Shaan” Bermudez-Hizon
What was the best present you got for Christmas? I really honestly liked the new mountain-biking gloves I got from my husband. I have enough calluses from riding that bike on 20-kilometer trips 4 or 5 times a week. I lost weight, I got stronger, but my palms are as smooth as that of a construction worker! I also love the white Coach sandals I got and the Kenneth Cole bag. Vince and the kids also received a bunch of awesome gifts. Santa gave the boys a basketball net complete with an adjustable goal post, and all the techie kiddy educational toys and the books that they got from godparents, relatives, friends and other people that just found them too cute to resist. As a family, we adore the piano my mom gave us which will definitely enrich our love for music.
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But despite all these gifts that were downright awesome, we got one very special gift from Vince’s relatives. This couple was one of the secondary sponsors at our wedding. They continue to be such an inspiration to us and to those who know them. Tito and Sabrina sent their gift in a palengke mesh bag which immediately caught my eye. I’m a fan of anything recycled and reused, and that palengke mesh bag would’ve come in handy. Initial reaction: brilliant!
I immediately read the card which didn’t have the canned Christmas greeting. The card read that it was a “Pass It On Gift.”
“This is a ‘PASS IT ON’ gift. In lieu of a Christmas gift for you, we prepared a ‘Noche Buena’ food package for a needy person… a street vendor, a construction worker, a carpenter, a painter… any person who does not receive a regular salary and 13th month pay… someone who may have nothing to feed his family for Christmas if he is not able to sell anything or have any work that day. We hope that the happy surprise you see on his face when you ‘pass on’ this package will fill your heart with joy, fulfillment and gratitude to the Lord for so much blessings given to you and your family. A Blessed Christmas to you and yours!”
My heart melted. This was the best gift!
The colorful palengke mesh bag had a kilo of rice, a champorado mix, a can of carne norte, luncheon meat and a bag of yummy choc-nut. It was enough to make a family dwelling on the streets, or a child begging for food, a woman living under a bridge, or a man selling candies at the corner to have a filling feast for Christmas.
I honestly was touched by the gesture and the sheer brilliance of the gift. I know how good it feels to reach out to the needy as I’ve dedicated almost a decade of my life doing charity work through my “Everyday Is Your Birthday Foundation” and my husband’s “Vince Hizon Foundation.” We’ve been trying to instill the virtues of giving and volunteerism in people who would lend us their ear and are willing to work with us. But a lot of times though, it is difficult to mobilize people to get up and help. I’ve experienced one Christmas where we gave away cards that said we donated to a foundation on their behalf, and made the Yuletide special for so many orphans as we gave them gifts, food and medicine. But I never really figured out how the recipients felt or if it made enough of an impact to move them to help the needy some more.
Sabrina and Tito’s gift is the best way to start a revolution of giving. I always say that a person is influenced once they see how their efforts make a less fortunate individual feel. My foundation encourages people to personally celebrate with the less fortunate and be with them; and not merely sign checks for them and not have to see them. In our own simple way, we’ve had so many people pay it forward after the initial outreach with us. And that’s all part of our goal: to move people to help. Volunteerism.
This “Pass It On” gift does more than just put a smile on a street dweller, a beggar, or a construction worker’s face and food in their stomachs. This “Pass It On” fills the heart and opens ones eyes to reality.
It’s my first time to get such a gift. I hope they wouldn’t mind it if we duplicate their brilliant gift idea. It’s one of the best ways to pass on God’s blessings and love. That’s what Christmas is all about. That’s what being human is all about.
Locker Room
This is where REAL TALK happens
RETIRING THE GREATS
From my Manila Standard Column - GAME WINNER - 11/27/09
Last week, I wrote about how the 39 year-old, 16 year veteran, Johnny Abbarientos is getting another chance to revive his shelved PBA career. Because of the slew of injuries on the Ginebra line up, they gave Johnny A. a month’s contract which required him to get his GAB license and other permits necessary with the league to be reactivated. Does this mean that after he’s done with this contract he’ll be a free agent? Will he go back to being a member of the Gin King’s coaching staff? Or will a taste of the action make him quench for more?
When the time comes that Ginebra slides Abbarientos back to the reserves list (which might not happen anytime soon with the new injuries on Celino Cruz and Jay Jay Helterbrand), will he retire? Are there other teams out there that could use the veteran leadership he brings? Wouldn’t it be more fitting if Alaska would be the last team he’d suit up for and they retire his jersey?
On that note, I decided to call the ever so accommodating Alaska Team Manager and PBA Governor Wacky Trillo to ask why no one uses jersey # 14 (Abbarientos), #6 (Lastimosa) and #16 (Hawkins)? I wondered if they had a rule against using the numbers of some of the greatest Aces they’ve had and if they retired their numbers within the organization.
He said it was purely coincidental or perhaps an unspoken decree in the team that no one touches those numbers. Alaska has retired 2 players; one of the best of all time Bogs Adornado (#33) in 1988, and the one of the best imports ever Sean Chambers (#20) during the 2001 Governor’s Cup.
“I’ve actually spoken to Mr. Fred Uytengsu about retiring Johnny with Alaska. We feel it’s befitting with all championships he has given us. We’ve considered getting him back even just for a short while”, shared Mr. Trillo.
Greats like Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Jerry Codinera, Alvin Patrimonio are some that have had their numbers retired by their teams. But I ask if there are any formal guidelines on retiring players by the PBA itself? So I called Commissioner Sonny Barrios, who is always on the move.
He says there is a need to institutionalize this, as was brought up by Governor Buddy Encarnado in a previous meeting. They expect to come up with guidelines very soon which should include taking career achievements into consideration. “But before planning any ceremonies, a player must first state his retirement”, says Comm. Barrios, “this is why Senator Jaworski hasn’t been formally retired because he never really proclaimed his retirement”.
But Commissioner shared that last season, they already had formal talks with the “Living Legend” about a formal retirement ceremony. Plans were already underway but schedules just wouldn’t permit. “But this might happen soon”. And when this does, it’ll be another stellar PBA moment, that’s for sure.
Maybe, by the time Johnny Abarrientos hangs up his basketball shoes (in a year or two if he had things his way), a wonderful ceremony befitting a hard court hero like himself would be put together to hang up his jersey and retire his number for all of us basketball mortals to honor and forever remember.
Last week, I wrote about how the 39 year-old, 16 year veteran, Johnny Abbarientos is getting another chance to revive his shelved PBA career. Because of the slew of injuries on the Ginebra line up, they gave Johnny A. a month’s contract which required him to get his GAB license and other permits necessary with the league to be reactivated. Does this mean that after he’s done with this contract he’ll be a free agent? Will he go back to being a member of the Gin King’s coaching staff? Or will a taste of the action make him quench for more?
When the time comes that Ginebra slides Abbarientos back to the reserves list (which might not happen anytime soon with the new injuries on Celino Cruz and Jay Jay Helterbrand), will he retire? Are there other teams out there that could use the veteran leadership he brings? Wouldn’t it be more fitting if Alaska would be the last team he’d suit up for and they retire his jersey?
On that note, I decided to call the ever so accommodating Alaska Team Manager and PBA Governor Wacky Trillo to ask why no one uses jersey # 14 (Abbarientos), #6 (Lastimosa) and #16 (Hawkins)? I wondered if they had a rule against using the numbers of some of the greatest Aces they’ve had and if they retired their numbers within the organization.
He said it was purely coincidental or perhaps an unspoken decree in the team that no one touches those numbers. Alaska has retired 2 players; one of the best of all time Bogs Adornado (#33) in 1988, and the one of the best imports ever Sean Chambers (#20) during the 2001 Governor’s Cup.
“I’ve actually spoken to Mr. Fred Uytengsu about retiring Johnny with Alaska. We feel it’s befitting with all championships he has given us. We’ve considered getting him back even just for a short while”, shared Mr. Trillo.
Greats like Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Jerry Codinera, Alvin Patrimonio are some that have had their numbers retired by their teams. But I ask if there are any formal guidelines on retiring players by the PBA itself? So I called Commissioner Sonny Barrios, who is always on the move.
He says there is a need to institutionalize this, as was brought up by Governor Buddy Encarnado in a previous meeting. They expect to come up with guidelines very soon which should include taking career achievements into consideration. “But before planning any ceremonies, a player must first state his retirement”, says Comm. Barrios, “this is why Senator Jaworski hasn’t been formally retired because he never really proclaimed his retirement”.
But Commissioner shared that last season, they already had formal talks with the “Living Legend” about a formal retirement ceremony. Plans were already underway but schedules just wouldn’t permit. “But this might happen soon”. And when this does, it’ll be another stellar PBA moment, that’s for sure.
Maybe, by the time Johnny Abarrientos hangs up his basketball shoes (in a year or two if he had things his way), a wonderful ceremony befitting a hard court hero like himself would be put together to hang up his jersey and retire his number for all of us basketball mortals to honor and forever remember.
JOHNNY A.
FROM MY MANILA STANDARD COLUMN 11/20/09
No doubt, Johnny Abarrientos is one of the greatest that ever played in the PBA. From being drafted over 16 years ago by the Alaska Milkmen, he has amassed numerous accolades including the 1996 MVP plum, 23 finals appearances and 13 championships with the different teams he has journeyed with.
He has been contracted by the Bgy. Ginebra Gin Kings as a member of the coaching staff after he was removed from the active roster due to his nagging patello femoral pain as one of the reasons. It was a role he embraced and was grateful for because he had a knack for taking the young superstars under his wings and providing them with guidance only a player as great as he can give.
A great opportunity presented itself last Friday November 6. With Jay Jay Helterbrand sidelined due to knee issues adding to the list of injured Kings like Junthy Valenzuela and Mark Caguioa, Johnny Abbarientos’ number was called up once again. His reactivation was announced 2 days prior to the date with the Barako Bulls in Cuneta but he’s kept himself in shape enough to be able to come up with 6 assists, 4 rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes of action. Very impressive for a 39 year old point guard who last played in a PBA game about a year ago.
But the Flying A must’ve have had his Friday the 13th a week in advance because a freak accident off a collision with Paolo Hubalde in the 3rd quarter ripped his left pointer finger, causing the bone to pop out, lacerating his skin at that. He was taken to the hospital while Ginebra was drubbing The Energy Boosters in the 2nd half.
“The first thing that came to my mind was that I was thankful that this (broken finger) is all that happened, but still I was very disappointed”, said Abarrientos. He was looking forward to making the most out of the 2-game opportunity that was given to him by Coach Jong Uichico.
He recalled how pressured he was to not disappoint not just the team but the fans. “I left them with a certain image. I was speedy and aggressive. I wanted to pick up exactly where I left off and show the fans the same speed and aggressiveness”. The pain brought about by the injured finger was overshadowed by the frustration of not being able to play again.
When asked if the freak accident is a sign for him to retire, he wouldn’t have any of it. “I know I still have one or two years left in me, should I be given the opportunity”. He feels he can still compete at this level and contend with the young guns. “Basketball is the same, but the decision making of a veteran is what will matter. Not 2nd guessing decisions come through experience. This is the reason why there are still a lot of veterans that get asked to play because they know what to do”.
It’ll take a few more days for the finger to fully heal and the great news is that Johnny will soon take flight again. With Caguioa needing about 3 to 4 more weeks, Valenzuela just starting to run, then a new reported injury on Sunday Salvacion, the Gin Kings are still be in need of Abarientos’ services. He would split minutes with Celino Cruz and rookie Kevin White, and most probably, Ginebra would slide Helterbrand to the 2 spot like they did when they still had Paul Artadi and Chris Pacana.
His players’ contract is for a month, and he had to get his GAB license and other permits necessary with the league to be reactivated as a player. Does this mean that after he’s done this contract he’ll be a free agent? Will he go back to being a member of the Gin King’s coaching staff?
[to be continued next week on manila standard...... will also touch up on retiring jerseys and hanging up the BIG J's number]
No doubt, Johnny Abarrientos is one of the greatest that ever played in the PBA. From being drafted over 16 years ago by the Alaska Milkmen, he has amassed numerous accolades including the 1996 MVP plum, 23 finals appearances and 13 championships with the different teams he has journeyed with.
He has been contracted by the Bgy. Ginebra Gin Kings as a member of the coaching staff after he was removed from the active roster due to his nagging patello femoral pain as one of the reasons. It was a role he embraced and was grateful for because he had a knack for taking the young superstars under his wings and providing them with guidance only a player as great as he can give.
A great opportunity presented itself last Friday November 6. With Jay Jay Helterbrand sidelined due to knee issues adding to the list of injured Kings like Junthy Valenzuela and Mark Caguioa, Johnny Abbarientos’ number was called up once again. His reactivation was announced 2 days prior to the date with the Barako Bulls in Cuneta but he’s kept himself in shape enough to be able to come up with 6 assists, 4 rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes of action. Very impressive for a 39 year old point guard who last played in a PBA game about a year ago.
But the Flying A must’ve have had his Friday the 13th a week in advance because a freak accident off a collision with Paolo Hubalde in the 3rd quarter ripped his left pointer finger, causing the bone to pop out, lacerating his skin at that. He was taken to the hospital while Ginebra was drubbing The Energy Boosters in the 2nd half.
“The first thing that came to my mind was that I was thankful that this (broken finger) is all that happened, but still I was very disappointed”, said Abarrientos. He was looking forward to making the most out of the 2-game opportunity that was given to him by Coach Jong Uichico.
He recalled how pressured he was to not disappoint not just the team but the fans. “I left them with a certain image. I was speedy and aggressive. I wanted to pick up exactly where I left off and show the fans the same speed and aggressiveness”. The pain brought about by the injured finger was overshadowed by the frustration of not being able to play again.
When asked if the freak accident is a sign for him to retire, he wouldn’t have any of it. “I know I still have one or two years left in me, should I be given the opportunity”. He feels he can still compete at this level and contend with the young guns. “Basketball is the same, but the decision making of a veteran is what will matter. Not 2nd guessing decisions come through experience. This is the reason why there are still a lot of veterans that get asked to play because they know what to do”.
It’ll take a few more days for the finger to fully heal and the great news is that Johnny will soon take flight again. With Caguioa needing about 3 to 4 more weeks, Valenzuela just starting to run, then a new reported injury on Sunday Salvacion, the Gin Kings are still be in need of Abarientos’ services. He would split minutes with Celino Cruz and rookie Kevin White, and most probably, Ginebra would slide Helterbrand to the 2 spot like they did when they still had Paul Artadi and Chris Pacana.
His players’ contract is for a month, and he had to get his GAB license and other permits necessary with the league to be reactivated as a player. Does this mean that after he’s done this contract he’ll be a free agent? Will he go back to being a member of the Gin King’s coaching staff?
[to be continued next week on manila standard...... will also touch up on retiring jerseys and hanging up the BIG J's number]
It's official! Dream come true!
It's official. I made it! I'm officially a PBA anchor! The first and the only female to have gotten this far. I'm so thrilled because it's been my dream!
Back in 2002 when NBN got the PBA contract, Edgar Reyes of NBN sports shared with me that it's his dream to have a female basketball anchor on board. He had such high hopes for me and saw in me what I didn't even know I had the potential of doing. It was so powerful.
It instantly became a goal and I was steering myself to that direction.
I put in so much blood, sweat and tears into what may seem likea simple task of courtside reporting. I was hell bent on giving my all, and doing it to the best of my abilities. I was a on a mission. I had so much passion for the game and for my craft, it consumed me at times.
Most of the things I did, I wanted it to be a step towards realizing the dream. Whether I was interviewing a player, introducing the top 10 plays, going inside locker rooms for the pre-game chat, chasing after coaches, invading huddles, my heart was into it. It was my game! That's how I rolled.
It didn't matter what others were doing, saying, or pursuing. I was in my own fight, focused on the prize. I just wanted to be a PBA anchor.
It was hard for me to leave my career behind after Vince and I got married and he got offered to play in the USBL (it's called LOVE). Playing for the Pennsylvania Valleydawgs meant leaving work and even the show that I so loved "In the Zone". Found out I was pregnant when we got there but that didn't deter me from learning. I went to their practice almost everyday (there was nothing much to do in Allentown anyway) and picked up a lot more about the game. Lucky for me Vince was being coached by Chocolate Thunder, Daryl Dawkins. Learned a lot from him in between the suicides he made them do.
After the Valleydawgs, we came back home. I was back doing ITZ till we had Vicente. And because of ITZ, I went back to courtside reporting with ease.
I also covered theV-league (I came up with the name btw) for ABC 5 on the side.
I have to give credit to ABC5 and Miss Sienna Olaso for giving me the opportunity to do PBA radio while I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I couldn't do courtside (who would want to see me in all my 160-pound glory) so they gave me a chance to prove my worth on radio. That was actually my first ever basketball anchoring stint.
Loved doing radio. Tagalog pa kaya astig!
I was covering games till I was 8.5 months pregnant. Had many labor pains during games, it was crazy! I'd be up on my swollen feet, pacing and doing lamaze breathing in the radio booth! What an adventure. I was also juggling a daily show on ABC 5 - Venta5 at that time.
As soon as the baby fat (mine) melted away (kinda), I was back doing courtside. Despite the changes in my life, I was still certain about my dream of becoming a PBA anchor.
Enter Solar sports. I was depressed that I didn't get to do PBA radio, but when God closes the door, he opens this huge window!!! And so he did. PBL came along.
Thanks to Erik Tam for believing in me enough. He made me the first ever female basketball tv anchor in the country! Coach Potit de Vera was my first partner!
Since I wasn't familiar with the PBL, and sadly, wasn't so familiar with college ball, I went to all the team practices a few times. All! I also decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and started writing articles for the PBL website. This helped me become familiar with the PBL. It was a great PBL season and I'm looking forward to covering it again, if given the opportunity.
I guess Solar saw enough potential in me to let me cover the FIBA Asia championships. Not to take anything away from the PBL but I guess covering the FIBA-Asia gave me a much bigger audience. I took every amount of criticism to heart and worked from there. I researched, I put in so much extra work, etc. I was so scared to cover my first game, ask Coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
All these opportunities have led me to this. The PBA.
I know I still have sooo much to learn and so many things to improve on. Trust me, I think about how I can be better every day.
It helps to have a very supportive husband who has helped me be more knowledgeable in the sport by constantly challenging me, arguing with me and just watching ball with me over beer! We make bets against each other, we argue about calls, etc. Ours is a fun household specially come playoff time! Vince is also my basketball coach, making me run suicides, giving me shooting drills, playing one on one in the park. I'm looking forward to building our basketball court in the backyard so I can school him! (not)
This is gonna sound like some sort of an acceptance speech but i'd like to thank my family (hahahahahaha). Thanks mom and dad for making me tough, you didn't mean to but it happened. My kuya who was obsessed with basketball and football made me a bit boyish growing up. My lil brother who taught me how to box - I was always kicking his butt. And my dear sister. My rock. Enough said.
Growing up, I played all sorts of sports, from street hockey to basketball in school. Was a swimmer when I was younger, have a blue belt in Taekwondo, played flag football, now I ride my mountain bike with guys, and if it wasn't for my knee injury, I'd run a 10k faster than my 1h14m record. Loved all sorts of sports, even figure skating and get this... curling!!!! (sweeeeep!) I tried all sorts of sports, specially outdoor / extreme sports from windsurfing, surfing, rock climbing, diving, etc. thanks to Lakbay TV and Living Asia. Speaking of the great outdoors, I love playing golf. I bomb my 2nd shots and bad around the greens, but I'm great with my driver (R5) and I'm steady with my putts! I'm grateful for being constantly exposed to athletes and sports loving individuals! My own passion is fueled by theirs.
It helps that I have great people to work with and wonderful people to look up to. Mico Halili I think is brilliant. Richard del Rosario keeps me entertained when he covers. Jason Webb arguably is the best analyst right now, just like Alex Compton. Quinito Henson is just...wow... my idol. He puts in so much work, it's admirable. Vitto Lazatin who's intensity keeps me at the edge of my seat. Paolo Trillo and Norman Black -awesome tandem on the court and on board. Danny Francisco, always cool and collect and makes great basketball sense. Then there's the legendary Dr. J. We're not worthy!
There's my ever loyal partner Coach Ronnie Magsanoc. I am so comfortable covering with him, he's such a great person! He's pure jokes too underneath all that seriousness. Magoo Marjon who is a true blue basketball fan and it shows with his enthusiasm and passion. Dominic Uy who is so versatile and great at everything he does - courtside, analyst, race care driver, Kaballah-ist. Chiqui Reyes who is so humble about his greatness. The girls - Marga, Mica, Lia and Cesca - are all so talented! I must also mention Fidel Mangonon III, PBA's head statsman and the one and only pbaologist. You think we know it all? He does. And he makes us better. All the production people make us better too. They're awesome and heaven-sent!
Then there's Sev Sarmenta. He's there when there's a major milestone in my life. He was my partner when I did my first ever sportscasting stint - opening ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics. He was there when I got married - we made him do the reading. He was there when I did the PBL and was very encouraging. He gave me ideas on what to call my first ever column. And now, I find myself turning to him for advise about this whole PBA anchoring stint. Whether he likes it or not, he's my mentor.
Jude Turcuato is no longer with the PBA but he gets special mention because he's one of my best critics. He'll tell it like it is which I appreciate. His wife Tricia is like that too! BFF!
Another source of inspiration are my twitter friends / followers. Seriously! All the support I've gotten through twitter has given me a lot of confidence. Sometimes, at the half, when I'm not so sure if I'm flowing as great as I want, I check my tweets for comments. it really does help - all the good and all the bad. I just take it in and build from there.
I just want to express how grateful I am. I'm living the dream. My dream. I'm lucky.
This is just the beginning. Who knows what lies ahead? The NBA? A coaching job (seriously I want)? Being part of a team's management or the commissioner's office? I really have no idea. But because I was able to make my dream of becoming a PBA anchor come true, I know anything I set my self to do is attainable!
To put two infamous sports tag lines together - IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING. JUST DO IT!
Back in 2002 when NBN got the PBA contract, Edgar Reyes of NBN sports shared with me that it's his dream to have a female basketball anchor on board. He had such high hopes for me and saw in me what I didn't even know I had the potential of doing. It was so powerful.
It instantly became a goal and I was steering myself to that direction.
I put in so much blood, sweat and tears into what may seem likea simple task of courtside reporting. I was hell bent on giving my all, and doing it to the best of my abilities. I was a on a mission. I had so much passion for the game and for my craft, it consumed me at times.
Most of the things I did, I wanted it to be a step towards realizing the dream. Whether I was interviewing a player, introducing the top 10 plays, going inside locker rooms for the pre-game chat, chasing after coaches, invading huddles, my heart was into it. It was my game! That's how I rolled.
It didn't matter what others were doing, saying, or pursuing. I was in my own fight, focused on the prize. I just wanted to be a PBA anchor.
It was hard for me to leave my career behind after Vince and I got married and he got offered to play in the USBL (it's called LOVE). Playing for the Pennsylvania Valleydawgs meant leaving work and even the show that I so loved "In the Zone". Found out I was pregnant when we got there but that didn't deter me from learning. I went to their practice almost everyday (there was nothing much to do in Allentown anyway) and picked up a lot more about the game. Lucky for me Vince was being coached by Chocolate Thunder, Daryl Dawkins. Learned a lot from him in between the suicides he made them do.
After the Valleydawgs, we came back home. I was back doing ITZ till we had Vicente. And because of ITZ, I went back to courtside reporting with ease.
I also covered theV-league (I came up with the name btw) for ABC 5 on the side.
I have to give credit to ABC5 and Miss Sienna Olaso for giving me the opportunity to do PBA radio while I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I couldn't do courtside (who would want to see me in all my 160-pound glory) so they gave me a chance to prove my worth on radio. That was actually my first ever basketball anchoring stint.
Loved doing radio. Tagalog pa kaya astig!
I was covering games till I was 8.5 months pregnant. Had many labor pains during games, it was crazy! I'd be up on my swollen feet, pacing and doing lamaze breathing in the radio booth! What an adventure. I was also juggling a daily show on ABC 5 - Venta5 at that time.
As soon as the baby fat (mine) melted away (kinda), I was back doing courtside. Despite the changes in my life, I was still certain about my dream of becoming a PBA anchor.
Enter Solar sports. I was depressed that I didn't get to do PBA radio, but when God closes the door, he opens this huge window!!! And so he did. PBL came along.
Thanks to Erik Tam for believing in me enough. He made me the first ever female basketball tv anchor in the country! Coach Potit de Vera was my first partner!
Since I wasn't familiar with the PBL, and sadly, wasn't so familiar with college ball, I went to all the team practices a few times. All! I also decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and started writing articles for the PBL website. This helped me become familiar with the PBL. It was a great PBL season and I'm looking forward to covering it again, if given the opportunity.
I guess Solar saw enough potential in me to let me cover the FIBA Asia championships. Not to take anything away from the PBL but I guess covering the FIBA-Asia gave me a much bigger audience. I took every amount of criticism to heart and worked from there. I researched, I put in so much extra work, etc. I was so scared to cover my first game, ask Coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
All these opportunities have led me to this. The PBA.
I know I still have sooo much to learn and so many things to improve on. Trust me, I think about how I can be better every day.
It helps to have a very supportive husband who has helped me be more knowledgeable in the sport by constantly challenging me, arguing with me and just watching ball with me over beer! We make bets against each other, we argue about calls, etc. Ours is a fun household specially come playoff time! Vince is also my basketball coach, making me run suicides, giving me shooting drills, playing one on one in the park. I'm looking forward to building our basketball court in the backyard so I can school him! (not)
This is gonna sound like some sort of an acceptance speech but i'd like to thank my family (hahahahahaha). Thanks mom and dad for making me tough, you didn't mean to but it happened. My kuya who was obsessed with basketball and football made me a bit boyish growing up. My lil brother who taught me how to box - I was always kicking his butt. And my dear sister. My rock. Enough said.
Growing up, I played all sorts of sports, from street hockey to basketball in school. Was a swimmer when I was younger, have a blue belt in Taekwondo, played flag football, now I ride my mountain bike with guys, and if it wasn't for my knee injury, I'd run a 10k faster than my 1h14m record. Loved all sorts of sports, even figure skating and get this... curling!!!! (sweeeeep!) I tried all sorts of sports, specially outdoor / extreme sports from windsurfing, surfing, rock climbing, diving, etc. thanks to Lakbay TV and Living Asia. Speaking of the great outdoors, I love playing golf. I bomb my 2nd shots and bad around the greens, but I'm great with my driver (R5) and I'm steady with my putts! I'm grateful for being constantly exposed to athletes and sports loving individuals! My own passion is fueled by theirs.
It helps that I have great people to work with and wonderful people to look up to. Mico Halili I think is brilliant. Richard del Rosario keeps me entertained when he covers. Jason Webb arguably is the best analyst right now, just like Alex Compton. Quinito Henson is just...wow... my idol. He puts in so much work, it's admirable. Vitto Lazatin who's intensity keeps me at the edge of my seat. Paolo Trillo and Norman Black -awesome tandem on the court and on board. Danny Francisco, always cool and collect and makes great basketball sense. Then there's the legendary Dr. J. We're not worthy!
There's my ever loyal partner Coach Ronnie Magsanoc. I am so comfortable covering with him, he's such a great person! He's pure jokes too underneath all that seriousness. Magoo Marjon who is a true blue basketball fan and it shows with his enthusiasm and passion. Dominic Uy who is so versatile and great at everything he does - courtside, analyst, race care driver, Kaballah-ist. Chiqui Reyes who is so humble about his greatness. The girls - Marga, Mica, Lia and Cesca - are all so talented! I must also mention Fidel Mangonon III, PBA's head statsman and the one and only pbaologist. You think we know it all? He does. And he makes us better. All the production people make us better too. They're awesome and heaven-sent!
Then there's Sev Sarmenta. He's there when there's a major milestone in my life. He was my partner when I did my first ever sportscasting stint - opening ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics. He was there when I got married - we made him do the reading. He was there when I did the PBL and was very encouraging. He gave me ideas on what to call my first ever column. And now, I find myself turning to him for advise about this whole PBA anchoring stint. Whether he likes it or not, he's my mentor.
Jude Turcuato is no longer with the PBA but he gets special mention because he's one of my best critics. He'll tell it like it is which I appreciate. His wife Tricia is like that too! BFF!
Another source of inspiration are my twitter friends / followers. Seriously! All the support I've gotten through twitter has given me a lot of confidence. Sometimes, at the half, when I'm not so sure if I'm flowing as great as I want, I check my tweets for comments. it really does help - all the good and all the bad. I just take it in and build from there.
I just want to express how grateful I am. I'm living the dream. My dream. I'm lucky.
This is just the beginning. Who knows what lies ahead? The NBA? A coaching job (seriously I want)? Being part of a team's management or the commissioner's office? I really have no idea. But because I was able to make my dream of becoming a PBA anchor come true, I know anything I set my self to do is attainable!
To put two infamous sports tag lines together - IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING. JUST DO IT!
“The First Edition” - My first Manila Standard Column release
Valentine’s Day of ’88, during the Nets and the 76ers game, history was made when Leandra Reilly became the first ever female play-by-play announcer for the NBA. Today, women like Reilly have gone through great lengths to bridge the gender gap in sportscasting, particularly basketball sports coverages. Although to this day, male still outnumber female sportscasters, and there’s a disparity between the stature and acceptance, more and more women are still hard-pressed at cracking that glass ceiling.
The reality is “when women call games which do not include female athletes, the listening audience does not accept women sportscasters as readily as men”, wrote Lou Schwarts, a former President of the Association of Sportscasters of America. We have the same realities here on our home turf. How many female commentators do we have calling the girl-powered V-League? More than half. And how many female commentators do we have calling local basketball games? Well, I’ll let you ponder on that question a little while longer.
ESPN, was the first network in the US to hire women sports commentators. Gayle Gardner in 1983 eventually became a fixture in baseball coverages as was her ruby red lipstick. The global sports giant is noted for its continuous effort of hiring females to be “on the ball”. Its trailblazing effort has given females a global audience and a path to acceptance, although it’s still a long and rough road ahead.
Robin Roberts comes to mind when it comes to breaking barriers. She has made her mark as a female anchor for “Sports Center”, the “Wide World of Sports” and the WNBA games. She’s also one of the lively hosts of Good Morning America up to now, and is a breast cancer survivor and advocate.
Hannah Storm Hicks also went off the beaten path and became the first ever female play-by-play announcer of the WNBA in 1997 after her stint as host of “NBA Showtime” and as a game reporter.
The hardworking former basketball player and coach, Doris Burke is the only broadcaster, male or female, to cover men's and women's college basketball games in the US. She gives color commentary for the WNBA and NBA games and also moonlights as a sideline reporter.
If Burke was the first female analyst for an NBA game, the first one to do it in a nationally televised NBA game in November 1996, was Cheryl Miller. Already enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, Miller is one of the most notable courtside reporters of the NBA. She was also the General Manager and Head Coach of the Phoenix Mercury.
In the mid-90s, Michele Tafoya was inked in history books as the first woman to call television play-by-play for the US NCAA basketball games. She was a sideline reporter for the National Football League and the NBA till she resigned October last year to have more time for her family.
Also covering the NFL and the NBA is Lisa Salters who made waves anchoring the 2007 NBA Championships on radio. At 5’2” she was one of the shortest guards in her college’s history when she stomped their grounds in the late 80s, but decades later, she stands tall as an accomplished sportscaster.
These are just some women who have broken ground and have helped elevate the level of respect for females in the industry. I dedicate the first edition of this column to these women and all others who have cracked the glass ceiling. Inspired and empowered I am.
I’ve made references only to some of the American female basketball commentators. This is because here in the Philippines, it is only today, the 6th day of November that a female anchor will debut in a live telecast of a PBA game. Watch the Alaska-Burger King tiff live on CS-9 and wish ME luck.
Since my sportscasting debut in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to cover a plethora of international and national sporting events, including the PBA as a courtside reporter. After being the first female for PBA Radio, the first female for the PBL, I now seal the deal to my dream. With 2 out of town games under my belt, today I cover my first ever live PBA game.
Join me throughout this journey and watch me crack the glass ceiling.
The reality is “when women call games which do not include female athletes, the listening audience does not accept women sportscasters as readily as men”, wrote Lou Schwarts, a former President of the Association of Sportscasters of America. We have the same realities here on our home turf. How many female commentators do we have calling the girl-powered V-League? More than half. And how many female commentators do we have calling local basketball games? Well, I’ll let you ponder on that question a little while longer.
ESPN, was the first network in the US to hire women sports commentators. Gayle Gardner in 1983 eventually became a fixture in baseball coverages as was her ruby red lipstick. The global sports giant is noted for its continuous effort of hiring females to be “on the ball”. Its trailblazing effort has given females a global audience and a path to acceptance, although it’s still a long and rough road ahead.
Robin Roberts comes to mind when it comes to breaking barriers. She has made her mark as a female anchor for “Sports Center”, the “Wide World of Sports” and the WNBA games. She’s also one of the lively hosts of Good Morning America up to now, and is a breast cancer survivor and advocate.
Hannah Storm Hicks also went off the beaten path and became the first ever female play-by-play announcer of the WNBA in 1997 after her stint as host of “NBA Showtime” and as a game reporter.
The hardworking former basketball player and coach, Doris Burke is the only broadcaster, male or female, to cover men's and women's college basketball games in the US. She gives color commentary for the WNBA and NBA games and also moonlights as a sideline reporter.
If Burke was the first female analyst for an NBA game, the first one to do it in a nationally televised NBA game in November 1996, was Cheryl Miller. Already enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, Miller is one of the most notable courtside reporters of the NBA. She was also the General Manager and Head Coach of the Phoenix Mercury.
In the mid-90s, Michele Tafoya was inked in history books as the first woman to call television play-by-play for the US NCAA basketball games. She was a sideline reporter for the National Football League and the NBA till she resigned October last year to have more time for her family.
Also covering the NFL and the NBA is Lisa Salters who made waves anchoring the 2007 NBA Championships on radio. At 5’2” she was one of the shortest guards in her college’s history when she stomped their grounds in the late 80s, but decades later, she stands tall as an accomplished sportscaster.
These are just some women who have broken ground and have helped elevate the level of respect for females in the industry. I dedicate the first edition of this column to these women and all others who have cracked the glass ceiling. Inspired and empowered I am.
I’ve made references only to some of the American female basketball commentators. This is because here in the Philippines, it is only today, the 6th day of November that a female anchor will debut in a live telecast of a PBA game. Watch the Alaska-Burger King tiff live on CS-9 and wish ME luck.
Since my sportscasting debut in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity to cover a plethora of international and national sporting events, including the PBA as a courtside reporter. After being the first female for PBA Radio, the first female for the PBL, I now seal the deal to my dream. With 2 out of town games under my belt, today I cover my first ever live PBA game.
Join me throughout this journey and watch me crack the glass ceiling.
CORY AQUINO’S DEATH: 40 DAYS AFTER… IN JAMES YAP’S EYES
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 08:54 from pba website
We are all lucky to have had Cory Aquino, the former president and the mother of Philippine democracy, touch our lives and inspire us one way or another. James Yap was fortunate to have felt her motherly love first hand.
“She was my No. 1 fan. She watched every game, pag nananalo text agad (whenever we’d win, she would text right away), ” shared the 2006 MVP, who gushed over how he experienced his mother-in-law’s genuine love and support. He admired the fact that she was really interested in his basketball endeavors. Even fellow Purefoods TJ Giants guard Peter June Simon as well as other teammates can attest to her enthusiasm.
James reveals that his “Mom” used to even watch the NBA and was a big Larry Bird admirer and a loyal Boston Celtics fan.
“I always thought she understood basketball more than my wife Kris,” recalling how Cory explained to Kris about off nights, and would give her two cents worth about the games. She also often prayed the rosary for her son-in-law and his team.
When James was asked to join the National Team, he had no hesitations to make one of his dreams come true. But there came a time when he was having difficulties balancing his practice schedules for two teams. Mom Cory’s heart-to-heart about serving the country through basketball got him through the challenge and gave him strength to endure the ordeal.
“Kinakamusta nya ang mga practice ko (she would ask how practice went) at pag meron may sakit, or injured kinakamusta nya (she showed concern for the sick and injured players),” explained James, also sharing that even when she was ill, she would still watch and would even feel livelier after won games.
“Before I left for the Jones Cup, nagpaalam ako (I said by goodbye). Sabi nya galingan ko daw (She told me to play well) and wished me luck,” said James, who was told that even when his ‘Mom’ was confined in the hospital, the family would still turn on the TV whenever the team had a game. The family would update Mrs. Aquino and she was showing receptive signs, acknowledging their stories of James’ games.
He cut his Taiwan trip short as he rushed home to be with his beloved family in their most difficult time. “When I got back, tumulo luha ko (I cried). Sabi ko ‘Mom’ andito na ako’ (I told ‘Mom’ I was back). Feeling ko na acknowledge nya pa rin ako (I felt that she acknowledged my presence).”
Like any loving son-in-law, James was overcome with immense sadness when the former President breathed her last last August 1.
Not a few basketball fans wondered if James would still join the Powerade Team Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Championships in Tianjin, China. But even after the memorable 14-hour burial rites which united the entire nation, bright and early the very next day James still embarked on a 10-hour journey for TIanjin and even attended practice as soon as he got there. The next day, they trampled the Japanese squad with Big Game James anchoring the team. Cory power was upon them. He had such an inspired and inspiring performance.
“Puso na lang nag dadala noon against Japan (It was all heard against Japan). I was really thinking of her. It was because of her that I was there,” revealed Yap.
“Kung di nya sinabi na wag mag quit at pag patuloy ang paglaro para sa RP, hindi na lang sana ako pupunta (If she hadn’t told me to not give up and to play for the RP team, I wouldn’t have gone),” he related, recalling how much he just wanted to stay with his family and how tired he was from the wake and burial.
Through all the triumphs and defeats, James kept his mother-in-law’s words and memory in his mind and in his heart to carry him through. In the end, he came back home a better player with pronounced experience and enhanced confidence.
Yap learned so much from Mrs. Aquino and feels eternally blessed for having her as a part of his life. Her kindness was incomparable, he says, and wasn’t at all surprised at the outpouring of love and support.
“Sobrang daming nagmamahal talaga sa kanya. Nakaka inspire (It’s inspiring how well-loved she is),” said James, who is truly grateful for all those who helped in every and any way, and for all those who prayed for his mother-in-law.
40 days after Cory Aquino’s death, James’ brother-in-law, Noynoy, formally announced his decision to heed the people’s clamor, follow in her Mom’s footsteps and run for President in next year’s elections.
But for James Yap, that is already another story. (PBH)
We are all lucky to have had Cory Aquino, the former president and the mother of Philippine democracy, touch our lives and inspire us one way or another. James Yap was fortunate to have felt her motherly love first hand.
“She was my No. 1 fan. She watched every game, pag nananalo text agad (whenever we’d win, she would text right away), ” shared the 2006 MVP, who gushed over how he experienced his mother-in-law’s genuine love and support. He admired the fact that she was really interested in his basketball endeavors. Even fellow Purefoods TJ Giants guard Peter June Simon as well as other teammates can attest to her enthusiasm.
James reveals that his “Mom” used to even watch the NBA and was a big Larry Bird admirer and a loyal Boston Celtics fan.
“I always thought she understood basketball more than my wife Kris,” recalling how Cory explained to Kris about off nights, and would give her two cents worth about the games. She also often prayed the rosary for her son-in-law and his team.
When James was asked to join the National Team, he had no hesitations to make one of his dreams come true. But there came a time when he was having difficulties balancing his practice schedules for two teams. Mom Cory’s heart-to-heart about serving the country through basketball got him through the challenge and gave him strength to endure the ordeal.
“Kinakamusta nya ang mga practice ko (she would ask how practice went) at pag meron may sakit, or injured kinakamusta nya (she showed concern for the sick and injured players),” explained James, also sharing that even when she was ill, she would still watch and would even feel livelier after won games.
“Before I left for the Jones Cup, nagpaalam ako (I said by goodbye). Sabi nya galingan ko daw (She told me to play well) and wished me luck,” said James, who was told that even when his ‘Mom’ was confined in the hospital, the family would still turn on the TV whenever the team had a game. The family would update Mrs. Aquino and she was showing receptive signs, acknowledging their stories of James’ games.
He cut his Taiwan trip short as he rushed home to be with his beloved family in their most difficult time. “When I got back, tumulo luha ko (I cried). Sabi ko ‘Mom’ andito na ako’ (I told ‘Mom’ I was back). Feeling ko na acknowledge nya pa rin ako (I felt that she acknowledged my presence).”
Like any loving son-in-law, James was overcome with immense sadness when the former President breathed her last last August 1.
Not a few basketball fans wondered if James would still join the Powerade Team Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Championships in Tianjin, China. But even after the memorable 14-hour burial rites which united the entire nation, bright and early the very next day James still embarked on a 10-hour journey for TIanjin and even attended practice as soon as he got there. The next day, they trampled the Japanese squad with Big Game James anchoring the team. Cory power was upon them. He had such an inspired and inspiring performance.
“Puso na lang nag dadala noon against Japan (It was all heard against Japan). I was really thinking of her. It was because of her that I was there,” revealed Yap.
“Kung di nya sinabi na wag mag quit at pag patuloy ang paglaro para sa RP, hindi na lang sana ako pupunta (If she hadn’t told me to not give up and to play for the RP team, I wouldn’t have gone),” he related, recalling how much he just wanted to stay with his family and how tired he was from the wake and burial.
Through all the triumphs and defeats, James kept his mother-in-law’s words and memory in his mind and in his heart to carry him through. In the end, he came back home a better player with pronounced experience and enhanced confidence.
Yap learned so much from Mrs. Aquino and feels eternally blessed for having her as a part of his life. Her kindness was incomparable, he says, and wasn’t at all surprised at the outpouring of love and support.
“Sobrang daming nagmamahal talaga sa kanya. Nakaka inspire (It’s inspiring how well-loved she is),” said James, who is truly grateful for all those who helped in every and any way, and for all those who prayed for his mother-in-law.
40 days after Cory Aquino’s death, James’ brother-in-law, Noynoy, formally announced his decision to heed the people’s clamor, follow in her Mom’s footsteps and run for President in next year’s elections.
But for James Yap, that is already another story. (PBH)
K-WILL IS GOD'S WILL
Everyone goes through tests. These challenges are there to build character and strengthen ones faith. Kelly Williams went through the mother of all tests, one that made his will more resilient than it ever was.
During the 2009 All Star week, the North and the South squads were to challenge the Powerade Team Pilipinas with former Rookie of the Year and MVP Kelly Williams proudly donning the national colors. But he was feeling queasy, his stomach cramping during the first of the 3-game, week-long schedule.
“It was like I drank bad water”, recalled Williams who shared that he could not even carry his own bag the next day. From the Davao Airport enroute to Panabo, he asked to be brought to the hotel because his condition was worsening. He was throwing up and could not keep anything down.
“I thought I was going to die,” he said.
It was ironic that when he was going through all this, his wife Erica broke the news that she was pregnant with their first child. But despite his extreme bliss, the malady was consuming him. The next day, April 24, he was flown back to Manila and was taken straight to the Asian Hospital.
“They checked my blood and that’s when they found out about my condition”. Kelly was diagnosed with ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) a condition of having low platelet count in the blood. Kelly’s platelet count was at 6,000 when the normal count is between 150,000 to 450,000. Platelets or thrombocytes are responsible for formation of blood clots, causing the bleeding process to stop.
“I didn’t understand what the doctors were talking about. I could not understand the severity of this condition”. He was ready to rip off the IV and leave the hospital because he was feeling better. But what the doctor told him hit close to home and made him realize that he was in a life-and-death situation. That if he pushed himself to play ball, and God forbid meet an accident on the court, it could be life-threatening.
He stayed in the hospital for four days, receiving fluids, steroids and all sorts of medication to boost his immune system and had a blood transfusion to stabilize his condition. It was a daunting experience, the least to say, “It was scary”. But he was able to cope with Erica at his side and with all their friends and family showing support and uplifting his spirit.
Williams was in the hospital every week, with his platelet count going up and down. He was also battling fears of not being able to play anymore, with the doctors outlining the possibilities.
All throughout, he was watching the Sta. Lucia Realtors and their predicaments being short handed. He wanted nothing more than to help the team get back on its championship track, so watching them struggle and lose big games was difficult to swallow.
“What was hard is that I had no control over (the disease). It’s not like an injury. And it also came out of nowhere,” he explained.
His mother who was a nurse in the US and is working as a Home Health Care provider came for over a month helping him search for answers on how to best battle this disease. His mother in-law also came and his family from Pampanga was regularly there to give support. He needed all that could get especially because of Erica’s early stages of pregnancy.
“Luckily Lamont’s there,” Kelly revealed.
Lamont Waters, Erica’s brother, is the second round, 17th overall pick this year of the Realtors. He was a United States service man for six years. He was with the US Air Force communications and was even a combat communications officer in Iraq. He’s also one of Kelly’s constant supporters, not just because they’re in-laws, but because they were already friends when they were younger, sharing a dream of playing together in the PBA back when they were balling in Fil-Am tourneys in Detroit.
With a great support system, Kelly “just got to the point where (he) just needed to NOT worry“. But he was still struggling to get some semblance of normalcy in his life.
“I was restricted to the house, couldn’t go to crowded places since my immune system was down. I would just go to the mall very early when no one’s there”, he explained.
Fervent in winning over the illness, Kelly went through the lengthy treatment that tested his resolve. But all the sacrifice yielded positive results. His platelet count is now on the normal range and they’re slowly tapering off the medicines.
The faith of friends and family helped him and Erica stay optimistic. It was all weighing heavily on him, but he learned that they “just have to hold on to the truth of it – that everything is going to be fine and God has a plan”.
When asked how all this has changed him, he says it slowed him down. Since he got in the league, everything was so fast-paced. But with the situation he endured, he was able to slow down and reprioritize things.
Kelly made his first public appearance in the PBA during the Draft last August 2 and went to practice the very next day.
Lamont shared: “He dunked on somebody the second week of practice so he’s not far from where he needs to be.”
“I’m not 100% but I’m in a good playing condition. I’m getting my coordination, timing and I’m dropping weight. I’m getting strong” relayed the 2007-08 MVP. Though he thinks Kelly’s far from where he was, Lamont thinks he can go farther than where he was at before the illness.
“He can be greater than how he was,” Waters said.
“I just hope the team sees the hard work (Kelly) has put in. If anybody’s going to slack, he has the ultimate excuse. But he works so hard,” according to Lamont.
Up until now though, it’s a mental and emotional battle, most especially physically. Not everything is “peaches and cream” and it’s still a daily decision in line with his faith to work hard and focus not on where he is but where he is going.
Friday last week, Kelly suited up in his very first official PBA game six months and two weeks after his last in Victorias City with Powerade Team Piipinas in during All-Star Week. He was all over the court and was his usual awesome self, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and three shotblocks in 37 minutes of action as Sta. Lucia started the season with a 95-76 massacre of Coca-Cola. He could not have been happier being back to the thing he loves doing most.
Kelly Williams shares that the last four months have been a test. He’s able to see things more clearly now.
“Now it’s all for God. He’s given me this to do. I will remember what he brought me through,” he said.
By Patricia Bermudez-Hizon
During the 2009 All Star week, the North and the South squads were to challenge the Powerade Team Pilipinas with former Rookie of the Year and MVP Kelly Williams proudly donning the national colors. But he was feeling queasy, his stomach cramping during the first of the 3-game, week-long schedule.
“It was like I drank bad water”, recalled Williams who shared that he could not even carry his own bag the next day. From the Davao Airport enroute to Panabo, he asked to be brought to the hotel because his condition was worsening. He was throwing up and could not keep anything down.
“I thought I was going to die,” he said.
It was ironic that when he was going through all this, his wife Erica broke the news that she was pregnant with their first child. But despite his extreme bliss, the malady was consuming him. The next day, April 24, he was flown back to Manila and was taken straight to the Asian Hospital.
“They checked my blood and that’s when they found out about my condition”. Kelly was diagnosed with ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) a condition of having low platelet count in the blood. Kelly’s platelet count was at 6,000 when the normal count is between 150,000 to 450,000. Platelets or thrombocytes are responsible for formation of blood clots, causing the bleeding process to stop.
“I didn’t understand what the doctors were talking about. I could not understand the severity of this condition”. He was ready to rip off the IV and leave the hospital because he was feeling better. But what the doctor told him hit close to home and made him realize that he was in a life-and-death situation. That if he pushed himself to play ball, and God forbid meet an accident on the court, it could be life-threatening.
He stayed in the hospital for four days, receiving fluids, steroids and all sorts of medication to boost his immune system and had a blood transfusion to stabilize his condition. It was a daunting experience, the least to say, “It was scary”. But he was able to cope with Erica at his side and with all their friends and family showing support and uplifting his spirit.
Williams was in the hospital every week, with his platelet count going up and down. He was also battling fears of not being able to play anymore, with the doctors outlining the possibilities.
All throughout, he was watching the Sta. Lucia Realtors and their predicaments being short handed. He wanted nothing more than to help the team get back on its championship track, so watching them struggle and lose big games was difficult to swallow.
“What was hard is that I had no control over (the disease). It’s not like an injury. And it also came out of nowhere,” he explained.
His mother who was a nurse in the US and is working as a Home Health Care provider came for over a month helping him search for answers on how to best battle this disease. His mother in-law also came and his family from Pampanga was regularly there to give support. He needed all that could get especially because of Erica’s early stages of pregnancy.
“Luckily Lamont’s there,” Kelly revealed.
Lamont Waters, Erica’s brother, is the second round, 17th overall pick this year of the Realtors. He was a United States service man for six years. He was with the US Air Force communications and was even a combat communications officer in Iraq. He’s also one of Kelly’s constant supporters, not just because they’re in-laws, but because they were already friends when they were younger, sharing a dream of playing together in the PBA back when they were balling in Fil-Am tourneys in Detroit.
With a great support system, Kelly “just got to the point where (he) just needed to NOT worry“. But he was still struggling to get some semblance of normalcy in his life.
“I was restricted to the house, couldn’t go to crowded places since my immune system was down. I would just go to the mall very early when no one’s there”, he explained.
Fervent in winning over the illness, Kelly went through the lengthy treatment that tested his resolve. But all the sacrifice yielded positive results. His platelet count is now on the normal range and they’re slowly tapering off the medicines.
The faith of friends and family helped him and Erica stay optimistic. It was all weighing heavily on him, but he learned that they “just have to hold on to the truth of it – that everything is going to be fine and God has a plan”.
When asked how all this has changed him, he says it slowed him down. Since he got in the league, everything was so fast-paced. But with the situation he endured, he was able to slow down and reprioritize things.
Kelly made his first public appearance in the PBA during the Draft last August 2 and went to practice the very next day.
Lamont shared: “He dunked on somebody the second week of practice so he’s not far from where he needs to be.”
“I’m not 100% but I’m in a good playing condition. I’m getting my coordination, timing and I’m dropping weight. I’m getting strong” relayed the 2007-08 MVP. Though he thinks Kelly’s far from where he was, Lamont thinks he can go farther than where he was at before the illness.
“He can be greater than how he was,” Waters said.
“I just hope the team sees the hard work (Kelly) has put in. If anybody’s going to slack, he has the ultimate excuse. But he works so hard,” according to Lamont.
Up until now though, it’s a mental and emotional battle, most especially physically. Not everything is “peaches and cream” and it’s still a daily decision in line with his faith to work hard and focus not on where he is but where he is going.
Friday last week, Kelly suited up in his very first official PBA game six months and two weeks after his last in Victorias City with Powerade Team Piipinas in during All-Star Week. He was all over the court and was his usual awesome self, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and three shotblocks in 37 minutes of action as Sta. Lucia started the season with a 95-76 massacre of Coca-Cola. He could not have been happier being back to the thing he loves doing most.
Kelly Williams shares that the last four months have been a test. He’s able to see things more clearly now.
“Now it’s all for God. He’s given me this to do. I will remember what he brought me through,” he said.
By Patricia Bermudez-Hizon
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