My lifelong dream is to be a professional basketball player. When I was seven years old, my parents would go crazy looking for me at home only to find me at the village court shooting hoops. Upon waking up, I'd rush to the clubhouse, skip breakfast and play basketball all day. At night I'd sleep with my ball, practicing shots while in bed, tossing the ball up while lying down. The first team I joined was the Small Basketeers of the Philippines. I was 11 years old. That was the first time I had a taste of being a champion and an MVP. Later, I joined a small inter-village tournament. Being the smallest and youngest player on the team, I would rarely get on the court. I'd go to the games with a jug full of cold water that I never got to drink because I never got to play. I made a promise to myself to practice hard so that I'd get to play the following year. Everywhere I went I brought a ball with me. I would dribble it from our house to the school bus and all ovewr the campus. After a year, I was chosen again to play for the village team. But his time, I was part of the starting five. A lot of people would watch the games and tell me that I had potential. In high school, I joined the UAAP team of Ateneo. Most of the games were televised. Because of this, people knew who I was. My parents were very proud of me, and would encourage me by saying, "Tuloy mo lang. Don't be afraid to dream." I had to make one of the most difficult decisions in life when I had to choose with college to fo to. It was achoice between Ateneo and De La Salle. In Ateneo, I wa staught to follow my dreams, and mine was to pay basketball. then I was offered a slot in the La Salle team. I knew La Salle had a high profile program for their athletes. On the other hand, Ateneo gave priority to academics; they even discouraged me from joining the National Youth Team because my grades might get affected. So I asked myself, "What do I really want to do?" All I knew was that my talent for basketball was God's gift to me. I prayed hard and aked for a sign. When I decided to go to La Salle, everyone was shocked - even my parents. Still, my mom and dad supported me all the way. My "controversial" decision generated a lot of rumors and mixed reactions from everyone - even the media. Still, I didn't let the rumors get to me. Going to La Salle brought me a step closer to my dream. I was doing what I loved and the people close to me were happy for me. I was on top of the world! NO problems, no worries. Then one morning after basketball practice, I felt pain shoot through my benign tumor. After having an operation to remove the tumor, the doctor advised me to rest for seven months. That year, I played for only had a season and rested during the other half. It was a cycle that went on for about two years. Since I felt my sole purple in life was to play basketball, I got very depressed not being able to play as much as I wanted to. Up until that time, everything was going my way. But because of my operation, I suddenly felt useless. Then I turned to God. My personal relationship with Him became deeper. I realize life was not only about basketball. There was also my family and friends. Throughout his trying period of my life, God told me "Don't give up." With Him in my life, I found the will to keep going. I began to understand that in order to reach my goals, I had to go through obstacles. I learned that it's up to me whether I want to see my situation as a positive or negative one. Even if I missed playing in a lot of game, I became stronger as a person and grew even closer to God. With my renewed spirit, great opportunities started ti pour into my life. I was chosen to be captain of La Salle's UAAP team. Out of thousands of players, I was picked to be part of the National Team.I had a bench commercial and billboard along EDSA. Adidas flew me to the States to meet my idol, Tracy McGrady. I was extremely happy. My life seemed perfect again! Then on February 22, during a minor league game, my life changes. Five minutes into the game, my right knee snapped. I knew right then and there that this was ACL - a serious knee injury that could keep me from playing in the months to come. I had tore my anterior cruciate ligament - the key ligament in the knee which bonds togehter the upper and lower parts of the leg. There I was splayed on the ground, my whole world spinning on around me. Regret, frustration, sadness and anger coursed through me. I questioned God about why he let this happen to me. Still, I tried my best to look at my situation positively. Having my family, friends and my girlfriend Danne with me helped tremendously. There is a reason for everything, and my injury is only part of Gof's big plan for me. I'm actually enjoying my time off court. Sometimes, I even think it's a blessing. At least now, I can concentrate on my studies (I'll be graduating with a marketing management degree in October). I have time to bond with my family and friends. I live my life one day at a time. My daily therapy sessions get me really excited and I'm looking forward to playing my first game. I'm definately not giving up on my hoop dreams. If I were given the opportunity to alter the events that took place in my life, I wouldn't change a thing. Everything that's happended has only made me a stronger person. I'm still the same kid who skipped breakfast to play basketball in the village park. And I still dream about wearing a PBA and Philippine team jersey one day. I don't know exactly when that day will be, but it will come. I just know it. |