For almost 15 years now, I have been a part of a basketball group that meets weekly on the hardcourt. The group is comprised of 20 something to 30 something years old men of different backgrounds and personalities. The group is composed of young businessmen, a politician, OFWs, a teacher (that’s me), employees, salesmen, a law graduate, physical therapists, nurses, managers, and students. The degree of familiarity and developed friendship has not diminished the level of competitiveness among us.

We learn a lot of things in life outside the classroom. I have found a significant learning place in the basketball court. Throughout the years, basketball has taught me lessons that can’t be found in books or classrooms. These lessons learned are even multi-disciplinary. Physical fitness, Physics, Leadership, Team Building, Group Dynamics, Personality Development, and Values Education.

I am, in basketball standards, small. I stand just about 5.5 feet and am thinly built. I am not a skywalking, speedy or a sweet shooting player. But I take pride in my perimeter sniping, passing skills and defense. Definitely a late bloomer, it was in high school that I have fully appreciated playing ball and hoops. During class breaks, after classes, under the sweltering sun, and even in leather shoes. I became part of the varsity in high school only because 1. I was a senior and 2. We have a small school population. In college, I was a member of the inter-block championship team as a second stringer and a strategist. In many places, basketball pick-up games introduced me to a lot of new people and eventual friends. I played in the backyard of a neighbor, wooden gymnasiums, in classier exclusive subdivisions in Manila, premier school gyms, in Brunei, and even in a court made up of sand.

I also learned more about life more than about the game itself not only as a player but also as a coach. I have coached kids in several barangay/community basketball leagues. I also experienced being a playing coach (more of the coaching than playing) for our subdivision team. My capping glory as a head coach is steering a small college in a fourth place finish in the 1998 MCAAD (Metro Colleges Athletic Association of Dagupan). We had the smallest line-up and probably the thinnest too. Yet we managed to reach the battle for third place which we lost to the Juan Castro (former MBA player)-led Lyceum Northwestern. The champion that time was University of Pangasinan. Well, I was not as successful as my idols coach Ron Jacobs, Baby Dalupan or Phil Jackson but to my players, that experience was golden!

Basketball has instilled in me the value of discipline and responsibility. Before one can become a team player, one should take the responsibility of the particular role to be played. It also has developed my patience, resilience and sportsmanship. I have honed my decision-making skills enabling me to adjust and cope with different situations.

Basketball has kept both my mind and body sharp. It also has enabled me to practice my leadership and team building skills. It brought that winning attitude but with the values of honesty and magnanimity in defeat. Yes, we learn a lot from the losses. Stand up and learn from each fall.

These basketball lessons are valuable in the game called life.