It’s a wrap! Podcast featuring Actor and Business Owner Mel Martinez @meliton13 coming out soon! Get insights form his journey as actor, chef and now owner of @panfamiliaph. #technomancerph #biznessmadesimple #inspireph (at Technomancer) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9TaMcKnpuX/?igshid=125trg8l1ghd9
If you’re from the Philippines, you probably heard about the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association, basically the Philippine version of the NBA). And if you’ve heard of the PBA, you might as well be familiar with the team, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel or simply, Ginebra. If you’re not, well, you need to take a peek at the world from that rock you’re living under.
The Ginebra legacy dates back to the 80s when the legendary Robert Jaworski and Francis Arnaiz joined the team following the disbandment of another infamous and legendary PBA team, the Toyota Super Corollas.
Ginebra’s supporters have since spanned generations, with parents and possibly grandparents passing on the “Never Say Die” attitude that Ginebra has championed through the decades.
Personally, my mother was a huge Ginebra fan in her days before she married my dad. She constantly tells me stories of how Ginebra would be down 10 points with under a minute left and Jawo would just shoot the lights out with threes to grind out the W. I realize that she never stopped being one of the Ginebra faithful. She just stopped watching the games live. But to this day, in the era of Mark Caguioa and Rudy Hattfield among others, she still remains loyal and cheers with me every time I watch. With all her stories, she truly did pass down a tradition to me.
With that said, let’s fast forward to present day. It’s the Commissioner’s Cup, the second of three conferences for an entire PBA season, and we’re nearing the end of the eliminations.
So where does Ginebra sit on the standings?
They’re currently at 5-5. They are tied at 4th place with Talk ‘N Text (surprisingly), Air21, and San Mig Coffee (surprisingly again).
But how did that happen? How is it that Ginebra is not atop the standings? How is it that Ginebra is in the middle of the standings instead of in the cellar based on their weaker line-up compared to the rest of the teams? How did the mighty San Mig Coffee Mixers, last year’s Commissioner’s Cup champs, and the even mightier Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, who just came off a hat-trick championship in the All-Filipino Cup Conference, be sitting on the middle of the standings? Wait, that entails a separate article.
Back to Ginebra, they started the conference at 0-4. Yes, you did not read that wrong. They lost their first 4 assignments then won against Barako Bull. However, they dropped their next game against Rain or Shine.
Let’s break it down a little.
In that game against Barako, Ginebra played with a little more life. They were more in sync and their new import Vernon Macklin was starting to warm up a little. Mark Caguioa was seemingly back to his old MVP self and LA Tenorio, who up until then was playing gloomy basketball, had started to smile a little. This win came after Coach Alfrancis Chua gave the Kings a nice 1.5 hours of pep talk at practice. Kudos to you, Coach. It worked.
But the hurdles did not stop right then and there. Sure, Ginebra won. Sure, they played consistently from start to finish—getting stops, being tight on defense, and distributing the ball. But the proverbial ponytail of Coach Alfrancis did not come off that night—not intentionally at least—and that spoke volumes of how far they have yet to go.
They then went on to lose against the Rain or Shine Elastopainters. It was the good kind of loss though, I daresay. They lost fighting. They once again exuded the classic Ginebra brand of basketball that Filipinos fell in love with—stubborn-never-giving-up-basketball.
Then, Manila Clasico happened.
Ginebra versus their timeless rival San Mig Coffee (Purefoods).
Everyone looked forward to this game. Everyone NEEDED this game, after a depressing week of Philippine basketball (new UAAP rule, Balkman meltdown).
The Kabarangays, most especially, were yearning for a game like this--a game that can potentially alter the course of a Ginebra squad spiraling down a deep black abyss of losses and unhappy basketball.
The course, was indeed, altered. If anything, I would go so far as to say that not only had Ginebra successfully avoided falling down a steep cliff, but they also managed to cause a polar shift within themselves as individual players and as a team.
LA Tenorio was smiling and commandeering his Ginebra ship like a legendary pirate of the Caribbean; Mark Caguioa was, as the writers of Slam Online PH put it, doing Mark Caguioa things. He was being the MVP that he is. Chris Ellis was learning but gliding through air. Billy Mamaril and Kerby Raymundo were showing how they're spectacular ballers out to prove that their team has what it takes. Vernon Macklin and that 1000mbps-no-buffer connection with LA Tenorio was just a feast for the eyes, fan or not. Macklin put in reliable numbers on paper as well as the much needed morale and energy boost on the floor for his teammates, highlighted constantly by slams. Mind you, Macklin does not choose his dunks--he dunks that ball all the time. You can just imagine the leaping and screaming hearts of fans like myself.
That was a great win and a great game. Respect to San Mig Coffee too.
Manila Clasico was the spark that Ginebra needed to get back to their winning ways. And its effects manifested clearly in their following clash with perhaps the league's current best team (despite their position in the standings), Talk 'N Text.
With TNT being a team loaded with basketball superstars, and the Kings being on the short end of the stick in terms of lineup, nobody, probably not even their fans, quite expected a win. I, for one, was majorly worried that they might dip and lose their energy and chemistry after Manila Clasico. Boy, was I happy to be wrong. Mark Caguioa opened the game with a trey, a nostalgic reminder of an epic Manila Clasico a week earlier. Clearly, Mark had a hangover from that game. That trey was also a chilling forecast for TNT for the next 48 minutes of action.
When Ginebra won that game, no way was Coach Alfrancis' hair going to be kept caged. With that big W, the ponytail was gone and fears that Manila Clasico was a fluke or 'tsamba' were buried 10 feet underground.
The Gin Kings would eventually see more of its faithful fans make their way to Araneta once more as they took on the Meralco Bolts and Barako Bull once more, eventually arriving to their current 5-5 win-loss slate just before the Holy Week.
While their last battle with Barako was basically, for lack of a better word, weird, they still managed to perform in the clutch and survive rallies from their opponents. From my vantage point, this clearly is an effect of good chemistry among the team as well as a combination of good coaching by Coach Alfrancis, insane basketball prowess by each player, and the team being on the same page with what they want to happen.
The reality of it is: teams survive rallies and are good in the clutch when they trust each other. It's kind of like relationships. Friends, families, couples can only survive the tough times when they're on the same page and understand what needs to be done.
But just because Ginebra has been winning, doesn't mean the woes are over. Yet another test is thrown at them: Mark Caguioa falling to a minor MCL injury.
He did not suit up for the Barako game. Yet Ginebra held their own with LA Tenorio and Rob Labagala stepping up. LA to be the Mark Caguioa and Rob to be the LA Tenorio. Success. I hope they sustain it in their last few elimination games without Caguioa.
At present, Ginebra is tied with Air21 for the longest ongoing win streak in this conference at 4. I hope they extend that. I hope they don't snap that streak like the Heat has snapped theirs at 27. Not yet.
With this up and down conference of Ginebra, there's also a seesaw emotional battle going on in the hearts of spectators of the PBA's most popular ball club. For every loss, hearts break. For every win, hearts skip multiple beats. Mine included.
I am excited to see what else this team has in store for the rest of the conference. I became a fan because of tradition.
I continued to support because of the heart I see in a team that, on paper, shouldn't be winning against top tier teams. And because of that heart, and indomitable desire to win, I am more than willing to go through a roller coaster ride, no matter how steep, just so I could experience the euphoria of a great, well-fought Ginebra win amid the booming cheers of the Kabarangays. I, too, will never say die.
What does it take to be a champion? What does it take to touch greatness? Heck, what does it take to simply be good at something?
There might be a categorical response to that somewhere. But for Jeric Teng, the new team captain of the UST Growling Tigers, there is no formula; save for his love and dedication to the game.
As Jeric is about to exhaust the last playing year of his collegiate career, he reflects on how time flew by. “Parang kailan lang. Mabilis lang kasi tuloy tuloy, ‘di mo napapansin,” he shares.
It is not surprising, therefore, that this early he is already working to make the necessary adjustments to improve his game come next season. “I’m working on my dribbling skills dahil ‘yun ‘yung kulang ko.”
The Tigers, he believes, already have the experience yet still need mental toughness. This is where Jeric comes in.
“I have more responsibilities to lead the team. As early as now, kailangan mapa-realize ko na sa kanila ‘yung goal namin sa UAAP,” he explains of his new role as team captain. “Sinasabi ko sa kanila we have a chance pero still, ngayon, we’re back to zero.”
But more than words, it will be his actions that will do the talking. “I’ll try to be a good role model sa kanila. I’ll try to work hard every practice para ma-inspire sila to do the same.”
An inspiration he will surely be should he succeed with the next bullet point in his game plan to greatness.
“I want to be a point guard.”
Jeric reveals his desire to move out of his comfort zone in order to open up more opportunities for him—a quality that escapes many.
“If swe-swertehin ako mag PBA, my height is for shooting guard (or) point guard lang eh. So siguro it’s best for me if I can practice being a point guard.”
He adds that it will definitely be a challenge since his natural position is a shooting guard. “Medyo mahirap siyang transition pero nag-usap na kami ng coach. We’ll see what happens kung sometimes gagawin akong point guard or not.”
Nothing comes easy
To accomplish his plans, Jeric must take in everything he can learn. In which department his brother Jeron, of the De La Salle Green Archers, is of much help offering constructive competition.
“We just help each other,” he shares of their on-going sibling rivalry. “We are motivated from each other na umakyat pa ‘yung game namin dahil syempre ayaw namin matalo sa isa’t isa.”
Nothing came easy for Jeric though despite his impressive basketball genes. He was once as lanky as Kevin Ferrer about a month prior to joining the Growling Tigers. “Before ako mag-practice sa UST, nag-stop muna ako mag-basketball for a month. Ginawa ko lang kumain.”
Since then, there’s been no shortage of trials and failures for the swift shooter. In the recent UAAP season, Jeric was plagued with injuries that included a minor MCL tear.
“When you practice every day, nakakalimutan mo na ‘yung nangyari before,” he remarks on the process by which he deals with his fears of getting injured again. But he acknowledges that it is all part of the system. “Normal lang naman ‘yung mga injuries.”
The mark of a true champion, however, is how he overcomes adversity and never stops kicking until he has his head above water.
“There’s nothing that can make you feel good,” he says of how he copes during tough losses, especially that UAAP Finals loss to Ateneo. “Pupunta ako kaagad ng gym. I’ll put (in) more shots. Hangga’t di pa ako nakakalaro ng maganda, syempre down (ako), (pero) mag pa-practice pa ako nang mag pa-practice.”
For such a tough defeat in the UAAP though, Jeric rose from the ashes emphatically when he bagged the MVP and Mythical Five awards in the PCCL tourney, after beating Ateneo in the finals.
Head in the clouds, feet on the ground
Despite being the PCCL MVP, the 2009 UAAP Rookie of the Year, and UST’s star player, Jeric would still be the first to tell you that he is not that talented. “Marami pang mga talented players dyan,” he says.
Jeric considers other better players as his motivation to constantly improve. And for the upcoming season, Jeric intends to hold nothing back. “I’m looking forward to improve my game this season talaga. Dapat lahat na. Wala na ako itatago eh. And ito na ‘yung pinakamalaking chance ko para umakyat dun sa PBA.”
I ask him about his plans should basketball not work out for him. Though I quickly add that I doubt it, he was even quicker to say that nothing is certain.
“We can’t say that eh. Kasi players talaga kailangan hard work,” he says. “You have a lot of competition, injuries (pa) and stuff.” The graduating marketing major says his contingency plan is to go the business route. “Kaya I take my studies seriously.”
When most people would cover up their flaws, Jeric acknowledges his shortcomings and puts his focus on instilling change in himself. “’Yung consistency sa work ethics ko. Minsan kasi I tend to slack off,” he admits.
“I have to continuously work hard and be confident lagi. Kasi minsan, when I have a bad game or what, nada-down ako eh. Kailangan matanggal ko na ‘yun dahil 5th year ko na rin. I have to be positive lagi.”
Nobody would perceive Jeric as a slacker with everything he has accomplished so far. For his last year though, Jeric hopes to leave behind a legacy by bringing a UAAP title back to Espanya.
“Championship. Yun lang,” he answers bluntly when I ask about his goal for this year. “I don’t care about individual awards. Gusto ko lang lahat kami umangat, even the coaches. ‘Di lang ako, ‘di lang isa sa amin. Lahat kami umangat.”
Now that he has had ample time to rest, after opting out of the recently concluded conference of the D-League to nurse his injuries, Jeric is fully well and ready to take on an entire year of basketball. He starts it off by helping Informatics in their bid for a title in the upcoming D-League conference.
If anything, Jeric actually started his year with ABS-CBN’s Princess and I Royal Championship, where he, his brother and fellow UAAP athletes played with the show’s cast.
He chuckles at an embarrassing moment, “Noong nag-practice kami a week before ng game namin, tinanong ko si Daniel (Padilla). Sabi ko, kailan ba magsa-start ‘yung Princess and I? Eh patapos na pala.”
Apart from basketball, this year is all about movies for Jeric as well. He has a long list of must-watch blockbuster films. “Marami, like Iron Man. I think there’s Fast and the Furious also.”
Admittedly a frustrated singer, with evidence from a recent TV guesting, Jeric says he would rather learn every language than to play every instrument. “Mas magagamit ko in life ‘yun in communicating with other people. Pag pumunta ako abroad, at least I can talk to them (in) their language.”
As he sat on the gym’s floor across from me, I asked him all the possible, even generic, questions about his game. He was kind enough to share his thoughts and elaborate those that I didn’t quite understand.
But the moment I told him “I got everything I need”, I realized I didn’t just get material for this article; I actually got to peer into his mind and heart. And what I saw was that he was more than a student-athlete. His passion is one of a kind. His drive to go places and be great is inspiring. And his incredible hold on himself as a person is staggering.
That’s probably what sets him apart. That’s probably the key equation, the proverbial secret formula to being great.
Jeric Teng’s heart could resemble that of a champion.
While nobody can really say where he might go, one thing is already certain: Jeric, and his huge heart, will be remembered.
___________________________________________
I wrote this feature for Inboundpass.com, and was posted on March 5, 2013.
If you happen to come across UST’s Kevin Ferrer outside of the basketball court and in everyday attire, he could easily fool you into thinking that he just got extremely lucky in height and that he’s no basketball player.
But the thing is, he is. He is a damn good player, especially for his age.
Still dripping with sweat and breathing heavily from early morning practice, I sat down with the sophomore cager who still had a long day of basketball and school ahead of him.
“Super tight pa rin,” he says of his still hectic schedule despite the offseason from the UAAP. He trains for UST and Blackwater Sports (D-League) on top of his classes.
Fortunately, an entire day’s basketball and school grind is all too familiar for Kevin as he has been doing it since high school. As a vital cog of the UST Tiger Cubs and a member of the RP Youth Team, Kevin learned to prioritize and juggle big responsibilities at a young age.
He admits, though, that it was a struggle for him, “Mahirap kasi lahat pinagsasabay mo. Pag-aaral, tapos training sa UST and sa RP. Makakauwi ako sa bahay mga 11pm.” And still he did it again and again.
His hard work paid off, however, as Kevin became one of the most highly-touted recruits once he exited the Tiger Cubs. His transition from Cub to Growling Tiger, he admits, was a big adjustment and definitely challenging.
“Iba. Sa high school, basic basic lang. Dito sa college, parang mental na eh. ‘Tsaka yung katawan kailangan nang palakihin,” he says.
It would seem that the former Tiger Cub standout has found his way around college basketball as he is steadily, if not already, making a name for himself.
Since his breakout game against University of the East in the first round of UAAP Season 75—where he stepped up in the absence of teammate Jeric Teng and scored 16 points, including making 4 triples—we’ve seen Kevin do a myriad of things that not only silenced doubters, but also proved his high value to the UST squad he eventually helped carry to the finals.
Among those was Kevin’s incredible athleticism. We saw a highflying offensive player who would drive strong and leap high to get the ball to the hoop. We saw his limbs extend all over the place as he intercepted passing lanes, fought for rebounds, ran the floor, and hustled for loose balls.
But it was most likely the revelation of Kevin as a defensive player that truly left a mark in people’s minds.
Kevin uncorked his defensive abilities during their second round match-up against National University, where he hounded Ray Parks all throughout, and helped limit NU to just 29.7% success rate from the field. Kevin credits all that to his street basketball roots.
“Kasi dati pa pinapabantayan na sa akin ‘yung best player,” he shares. “Parang nakasanayan ko na, uy nakaka-score ‘yun (player), kailangan ko na i-stop para manalo ‘yung team. Tapos ginawa ko na lang kay Parks.”
Kevin donned his hero’s cape once more during the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL), where he and the Growling Tigers first tasted the thrill of being National Champions. This, he says, was the moment when he felt things changed for him. He revels in the sweet moment of finally getting a measure of revenge on Ateneo, their UAAP Finals tormentors.
“Sa UAAP, ‘yung nandoon na (kami) pero nawala pa. Pero sa PCCL bumawi kami,” he explains. “Binigay namin yung best namin para makuha talaga ‘yung title ‘tsaka makabawi sa Ateneo.”
When his on-court rivalry with Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena was brought up, Kevin was quick to talk of Kiefer as his best friend.
“(Rivals kami sa court) pero sa labas super close friends (kami),” he shares of the common subplot between the two talented athletes since high school. “Best friends talaga kami. Minsan dun ako natutulog sa kanila dati.”
The lanky Tiger is not limited to collegiate leagues. Kevin has also made quite a ruckus in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup where he, along with some fellow Growling Tigers, play for Blackwater Sports. Although they failed to reach the finals in this conference, the experience he gained from the semi-pro league will be valuable when he comes back for his 3rd playing year.
“Malaking tulong kasi iba na, super tough. Doon ko rin nakukuha ‘yung kumpiyansa ko,” he explains.
The D-League also helped him boost his confidence further because of the freedom he was given to play his own game. The proof of which can be seen in his numbers and overall consistent contributions to Blackwater each game.
Many know Kevin Ferrer, the athlete, but as I take a break from the basketball questions, I instantly catch a glimpse of Kevin Ferrer, the animated, ever smiling, and comical person. When he’s not busy chasing greatness, Kevin is big on movie marathons and hanging out with his teammates.
His ultimate comfort food? Sinigang na hipon. Even his favorite Pokemon reveals something about his personality.
“Si Snorlax kasi (lagi) tulog,” he says with a chuckle.
UAAP Season 75 was a big season for Kevin. It was a preview of bigger things to come for the homegrown UST kid in the next three years. Armed with his goal of getting a ring for UST and the wealth of experiences he is accumulating, there is no doubt that he will become better – way better.
He will become a leader. He will become an all-around offensive and defensive threat. He will be double-teamed because he can do so many things. He will become a better person, a better student, a better teammate, and a better friend.
Kevin Ferrer will be better. And there’s no stopping it. As it is, he has sprouted wings and is the highest-flying Tiger out there. He is poised for flight, and he is ready to be catapulted. He was born to fly.
____________________________________________
I wrote this feature for Inboundpass.com and was posted on Feb. 25, 2013.
