THE TANG DYNASTY

taken from greenarcher.net

The Tang Dynasty once ruled China for nearly 300 years

Considered by many historians as the golden age of Chinese civilization, the reign of the Tangs was considered an age of golden prosperity and great cultural achievement in China’s very colorful history.

Taking the reins from a short-lived Sui Dynasty, the Tang rulers successfully reunited the entire Chinese community that was previously in disarray by establishing a strong central government and heavily promoting trade between 618 A.D. to 907 A.D.

Fast forward to present, and La Salle’s newest court emperor Tyrone “TY” Tang, like his early ancestors, is faced with the enormous burden of reunifying the rookie-laden 2003 Green Archer squad after a heartbreaking, gone-haywire 2002 season.

Expectations are, of course, sky high, for he is assuming the throne of one of La Salle’s and UAAP’s all-time greats, none other than Emperor “Cool Cat” Mike Cortez.

Tang admits he is no Cortez, but his tremendous work ethic and deep-seated yearning for redemption are already enough reasons why we should idolize this guy, like how we venerated the Cool Cat for three straight years.

This early, he has proved that he’s capable of uniting his rookie teammates and the entire squad, highlighted by a “TY-riffic!”, “shut-up” type opening game performance against the UST Tigers which saw him did a little of everything – score, rebound, assist, orchestrate, defend and hustle.

Which is extremely remarkable, considering his very limited playing time last year playing second fiddle to the Cool Cat, and the fact that he was doubted, criticized and finger-pointed as the goat by jaded UAAP observers last season.

As this year’s season progresses, Tang is already raring to face whatever challenges and further criticisms the fray will throw at him.

For the heart of this Tang of La Salle, like that of his heroic early ancestors, cannot be invaded just easily.

GA: Let’s start with basketball stuff. Why do you think TY is well-loved by the La Salle community?

TY: Ha? Mahal ba nila ako? (laughs)

GA: Let’s re-phrase. Why do you think you’re a charismatic figure in La Salle?

TY: Sa tingin ko, syempre last year tingin nila sa akin ako yung nagpatalo ng championship game diba? Parang ako yung masama. Pero now, since wala na nga si Mike, ako na yung inaasahan ng mga tao. Fortunately naman during the first few games, hindi ko naman sinasabi na mala-Mike ang performances ko, pero at least nadadala ko na yung team kahit papaano.

GA: How do you describe TY Tang’s rookie season?

TY: Last year, I totally lost my confidence. Yung first few games, OK pa siguro, pero as the season progressed, hanggang sa championship series, aminin ko, slowly nag-deteriorate yung performance ko. Parang eroplano na nag-dive. Naging forgettable yung last few games ko.

During the pre-season, I told myself I’m going to regain that confidence. Last year was an adjustment period for me. Syempre, straight out of high school, kelangan ko mag-adjust sa new system.

GA: How did you get into La Salle? Did other schools try to woo you?

TY: Si Sir Awu (Lacson) talaga ang kumuha sa akin. Last minute decision ang ginawa ko. I was deciding only between two schools, La Salle and Ateneo.

GA: We were told you did not avail La Salle’s scholarship program for athletes?

TY: Yup, I’m not on scholarship sa La Salle. They offered pero my father didn’t accept. He decided to make an agreement that the scholarship and the allowances be given to the less-fortunate students instead. Na-realize ng dad ko na mas kailangan nila yun.

Yung mga naging recipients ng scholarship, I think four sila, hindi ko pa kilala, since La Salle na ang namili. Pero one time papakilala sila lahat sa akin.

GA: How did you get into the sport of basketball?

TY: Nag-tryout ako sa SBP (Small Basketeers of the Philippines) when I was in grade school sa Xavier. Swimming talaga ang sport ko. Actually ayaw nga ng parents ko nung una na mag-shift ako to other sports. I had a bright future as a youngster in swimming bago pumasok yung basketball sa buhay ko. Siguro I just decided to try other sports.

Kung hindi ako nag-quit sa swimming, first year or second year high school malamang nasa Palarong Pambansa and Southeast Asian games na ako. Expertise ko is butterfly. Six years old pa lang ako, I already made a Philippine record sa individual medley. 1 minute 36 seconds.

Naglaro lang ako ng basketball dahil nagsawa lang ako sa swimming. Sinabi ko sa sarili ko, “Ayaw ko na…” Gusto ko lang mag-try ng iba. And yun, nagtuloy-tuloy na.

GA: Along with Joseph Yeo and now Ateneo rookie Chris Tiu, you were Xavier School’s famous triumvirate that torched the different leagues.

TY: Oo, naging teammates ko sila. Si Eric Yao (current Ateneo player) nakasama din namin sa alumni league. Kami so far yung mga nag-UAAP from Xavier in recent years.

Lahat ng liga na sinalian namin before champion kami. Si Chris, High One siya, High Two ako nung naging teammates kami. Twice kami nagchampion sa Tiong Lian, yung league ng Filipino-Chinese schools.

GA: Who is your biggest influence so far in basketball?

TY: Coach Alfredo Amador, yung coach ko sa Xavier, now the coach of La Salle Greenhills, was the biggest influence in my basketball career. Kasi sa Xavier, hindi naman priority ang varsity.

Extra-curricular lang yung sports, education talaga ang priority. Pero siya ang nag-motivate sa akin na kaya ko mag-move on sa higher ranks.

(Editor’s Note: Amador was once coach of the FEU Tamaraws. He steered the Tams to the 1992 UAAP championship.)

GA: Why is your nickname TY? Meaning thank you?

TY: Sa Xavier pa lang yun na tawag sa akin. Elementary pa lang ata. Minsan T, minsan TY (pronounced as tie). Ewan ko ba, pero naging T-Y over the years.

GA: Describe TY Tang off the court. (During this interview, he was with his girlfriend Giza.)

TY: (turns to his girlfriend) Ikaw na lang…

Giza: Off the court, TY is simple but really special. Unlike the impression that people might have on him whenever they see him on court, which is a very serious guy, let me tell you he is the complete opposite. He is so much fun to be with, so “makulit”, and basically someone who can make you smile no matter how bad you feel. As a boyfriend, he is super sweet, thoughtful and supportive.

Back to being simple, TY does not need anything spectacular or extravagant to make him happy. He believes in the saying that the best things in life are free, and with that I think that love, care and peace of mind are all he needs to put a smile on his face. He would substitute a party night in Temple in Greenbelt 3 and would rather go watch a Side A concert (basta soothing music…that’s his favorite eh).

Which leads me to another unique personality of his. TY is a senti boy, very romantic and sensitive! I don’t know with other players but I really didn’t expect a basketball player to be all that. It’s just kind of ironic. This is just one of the reasons which makes TY special but of course, he enjoys normal things too like watching movies, going out of town once in a while, shopping, and of course eating and sleeping. Basically, TY is someone who will definitely leave footprints in your heart once he steps into your life.

(Editor’s Note: Giza, a DLSU Industrial Engineering major, graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy, the neighbor school and female counterpart of Xavier. They didn’t meet while in High School; curiously, they met at a common friend’s debut party while in College.)

GA: Since Giza mentioned you like to eat, what’s your favorite restaurant?

TY: Iba-iba eh. Siguro isa na dito. (Terriyaki Boy, where we held this interview, while TY’s chomping its famous Terriyaki Boy Chicken Don). Tsaka madalas din ako mag-crepe sa Café Breton.

GA: Describe this year’s Green Archer squad as compared to last year.

TY: Kahit karamihan rookies this year, ang maganda lahat ng players nagkakausap. There is bonding among the players. Unlike before, may mga players na may communication gap.

GA: Who’s your favorite NBA player?

TY: Michael Jordan.

GA: PBA?

TY: Noong bata pa, si Johnny A (Abbarientos).

GA: UAAP player aside from your current or previous teammates?

TY: (pauses to think) Hindi kasama mga teammates ko…? Eh DLSU fan lang ako, wala na ibang team para sa akin.

GA: Who do you think is the league’s best point guard right now following Cortez’s departure?

TY: Actually lahat naman sila magagaling eh. They just have their own strengths kaya hindi ko talaga mapinpoint kung sino talaga.

GA: Ever been roughed or trash talked in your young basketball career?

TY: So far, wala pa naman nagtrash-talk sa akin sa UAAP. Hindi din naman kasi ako nag-tratrash talk. Tahimik lang ako sa court. If that happens, hindi siguro ako mapipikon because I know it’s part of the game.

Regarding rough play, wala pa naming seryoso. Pero merong players na medyo mahilig tumulak tsaka kaunting siko pero kapag binawian mo sila, napipikon sila. Kasi ako hindi ako napipikon sa court.

GA: Ever got scolded by coach Franz?

TY: (smiles sheepishly) Actually, everytime napapagalitan ako. Never one time di ako napagalitan. Nah, exaggerating lang siguro ako. Hindi naman everytime. Pero I understand naman why he does that. Lalo na if I commit a turnover, like naagawan ako that led to an easy basket, admittedly minsan nasisigawan ako.

GA: Do you ever get to log on the Internet and check out the various UAAP devoted sites like WWW.GREENARCHER.NET and www.pinoyexchange.com?

TY: At times, pero sobrang bihira. Kasi ako, pagka-uwi ko sa bahay, usually pagod na from training, check lang ng e-mail tapos tulog na. May pasok pa kasi the following day. Pero maraming nagkuwento and nagsabi sa akin about sa isinulat nyo about me after the first game.

(Editor’s Note: TY doesn’t live in the athlete’s dorm. He’s staying with his parents and 2 siblings in Quezon City.)

GA: How do you balance basketball training and studies, considering you’re in the College of Business and Economics, which is not an easy course (Business Management), with Accounting and all that stuff?

TY: Siguro I just cut down time for other things – tulog, going out, relaxation time. Because I make sure hindi nasasacrifice yung studies ko with the everyday training. I owe my education to my parents. Syempre, ginusto ko mag-varsity, kaya dapat panindigan ko.

With regards to Accounting, well, it’s kinda tough, but I’m not really new to it considering all the Math we’ve encountered sa Xavier pa lang.

Giza: (jokes TY) Mag-IE (Industrial Engineering) ka na lang…

TY: Nah. Hindi ako mahilig sa Math. Tsaka hindi siguro kakayanin kapag varsity ako. Suicide ata yun… (smiles)