kwentong "BOLA"

Me and my co-Ginebra fans after the game @ Araneta.

I was thinking about what to write in my blog and I end up sharing my story about my Basketball interest. Other says its non-sense because it’s not NBA. But I want to share the very part of our Philippine Basketball Association. I love it not just because of the game but the way they treat their fans. I admire their passion for what they are doing and the willingness to sacrifice their lives in becoming popular.

I am a Ginebra fan when I was 2^nd year High School until 2nd year college. I always watch live telecast games that they had and buy stuff about them such as jerseys, rubber shoes, t-shirts, etc. I make sure that I am always updated about my team. I started to watch live games when I enter my 3^rd year. I became addict; my friends called me “adik sa ginebra”. I am a member of fans club, PBA forums, supported a lot about this team. Even my teachers and other schoolmates know about my addiction. Other ginebra fans at the campus ask me about details or anything about them. I began to fanaticize to be their wife. (hahaha!)I’ve been waited a long time to see players in person because my parents won’t allow me to do so. They weren’t agreeing about how the way I adore them.

If you’re reading this and you don’t know about Ginebra, according to wikipilipinas, “The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979. It is one, if not the most popular team, in the league. Barangay Ginebra uses the trademark run-and-gun offense, which excites the fans during games. Defensively, they are known to play physical, employing a suffocating man-to-man defense. They are also known for their ‘never say die’ attitude by coming back from deficits during games and upsetting better-ranked teams.” (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Barangay_Ginebra_Kings) I had a friend named Jenina, she was a ginebra fan also. We watch games at the Araneta without permission from our parents; we’re “partners in crime”. After games, we’re waiting for our favorite players at the southgate. Itong place nato ung labasan ng players kung saan ang daming fans na nag aantay sakanila para mag papicture at autograph.

We had a chance to go at Ginebra’s practice game at Pasig. Before that day came, we’re very excited and nervous because we're gonna see them live in action. I’ve waited 4 years to see them live. Jenina was very excited to see her favorite player . Eric Menk (the guy beside me) is Ginebra's center, with jersey number 30, played for south team in PBA All-star, also played for team Pilipinas with the other PBA players. She gave him a little tiger stuff toy, then after one week Eric displayed it inside his car and she goes crazy when she saw it. He allowed us to get inside his car to check if that was the gift Jenina gave. Jenina and Eric were now friends together with Kuya Boks, Eric's personal driver.

Of course, the best part here is when I began to see and to know my favorite player. He was the team’s pointguard, standing 6’ft high, with jersey number 13. The first time I saw him was in Ynarez Center, Antipolo. They had a game versus RedBull, I’ve waited for him at his car after the game. On that night, I got my first autograph from him. I didn’t have a chance to take a picture with him because of the crowd. In practice games, it was a different story because he was only an ordinary man, sitting at the left corner of the court, drinking water and looking for some food to eat. When I got a chance to get closer to him, I don’t know what happened to me. hindi na ako makapag salita at feeling ko nawala na ako sa mundo. Dream come true talaga! :)

#13 Jay Jay "The Fast" Helterbrand

(photo from PBA.ph)