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There is
such a thing as the fear of the unknown. It is the kind
of fear that might cause one to shrink and remain in his
comfort zone.
This
writer remembers a well-known scene in street-basketball
courts, where most players start their game without the
benefit of formal instruction.
The idea
is that for one to improve on one’s game, one has to go
up against higher talent.
Going up
against competition one can easily beat does not improve
one’s game. It only gives the player an illusion of
dominance.
So I
have always told my players to play against the older
guys, never mind if these are street smarts or much more
talented. Finding a way to beat these guys is the first
step in conquering one’s self and reaching the higher
plane of learning.
This is
not only true in basketball, but in all other sports
disciplines as well.
Of
course, being in sports can always make one prone to
injuries, but I’ve always believed that most injuries
can be avoided with the proper conditioning and
training, along with adequate rest and nutrition.
And so I
thank anew the National Collegiate Athletic Association
and the University Athletic Association of the
Philippines management committees for heeding my clamor
for the junior players who are part of the National
Basketball Training Center (NBTC) to compete in the Nike
Summer League.
I
personally lodged my case before them, emphasizing that
playing against more seasoned players will be best for
the junior players.
Of
course, I understand the initial concerns like injuries
and playing against one’s alma mater.
Perhaps,
there was also the thinking that playing against older
players will not be good for the junior players’
self-confidence.
If you
remember, dear readers, there was a time when the
all-Filipino Philippine amateur team was fielded as a
guest team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)
in 1987.
These
players were whipped via a large margin left and right
by the powers then that would have disheartened the
group.
But from
this batch would emerge the likes of Alvin Patrimonio,
Jerry Codiñera, Dindo Pumaren, Benjie Paras and Ronnie
Magsanoc, who would all be stars of the future.
So, one
couldn’t say that their then-budding careers were
damaged by going up against the likes of star Ramon
Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Philip Cezar and Arnie Tuadles.
In a
way, these youngsters learned a lot from the experience.
In the
same way, this is how I am looking at the stint of the
junior players in the seniors’ league.
Come to
think of it, these players should start being used to
playing against top talents as they are being geared for
several National Youth teams, including the one to be
fielded in the 2010 Junior Olympics.
Asian
teams there are expected to be merciless and several
times more talented. This is no time for these budding
national cagers to be cocooned. |
