Every Filipino basketball junkie dreams of the day that a kid from our little island nation will finally make it to the biggest league in the world, the NBA. Imagine a guy of your own bloodline playing in this grand stage and actually making an impact. These hoop dreams are not far from reality with players getting taller, stronger, quicker and smarter. Even Manny V. Pangilinan or also known as MVP, is thinking of purchasing a share in an NBA team. Indeed the sky is the limit when it comes to our love of the game. Everything is possible when we dream. But imagine if the NBA or the US NCAA suddenly banned all foreigners who did not have American blood in them or who were not born in America. Citing that these foreigners are taking away opportunities for so many young Americans from playing college or professionally. If that happens, our hoop dream would be obliterated. Of course, the Filipino nation would cry foul, citing that this is racist and unfair for players who worked so hard just to get a chance to study in the US or play in the NBA. Players who risked everything chasing that dream. Unfair isn't it?
But thats exactly what we are doing in our own country. The NCAA has enacted a rule that would ban foreigners from playing in the league. The UAAP on the other hand, is putting some thought into enacting such a rule in their own league. This ban was enacted by the schools who advocated it, claiming that the influx of foreigners into Philippine basketball will destroy local scouting thus, will not help local talents, though the national team, Gilas Pilipinas, has acquired the service of a foreign player to shore up the center position. These so called men of upright education claim that we must prioritize our own race than others, yet would cry foul at the very hint of a racist murmur against our very own. They claim that these foreigners do not come here to study but just to play but does not bat an eye when they found out a local player, who happens to be their star player, does not attend classes. This cycle of hipocrisy and politics is what truly bringing Philippine basketball down. The fact that these rules were enacted in response to the rise of teams in their leagues shows that the true reason why they enact such rule is only to bring certain teams down. This is masked by misplaced nationalism that evolves into outright racism. A cycle of hate and bigotry that if not stopped, will only get worse.
Though I should not be surprised since I've always believed that Filipinos are racist. We call offensive names to different ethnic groups that only shows our ignorance to the world community. One game affirmed me that my belief was true. Game 3 of the 89th season of the NCAA Basketball Finals. Whenever Nigerian Ola Adeogun would go to the freethrow line, the whole Colegio de San Juan de Letran community resounded not with cheers or jeers but with monkey sounds and gestures. A Letran alumus was also photographed acting like a monkey to mock Ola. These acts are the most disgusting I've ever seen in my years of watching basketball. That act made me ashamed to associate myself to these people as my countrymen. They do not know the meaning or implications of what they did. As what I said to a friend who's a Letran alumnae, "I pray that you do not experience what you did to Ola that game." Yet I believe that it is more shameful that the institution itself did not do anything about the incident, not even an apology. It is perfectly clear that Letran accepts these kind of behavior from their alumni and students and has no intention of curtailing this.
They fail to realize that these athletes have risked so much to come to our shores to gain an education and/or realize their dreams to play professionally. Young men come here to seek own fortunes, quite similar to a Filipino teen coming to Metro Manila to try out for a college team. The stories of young men such as Ola Adeogun who left his homeland of Nigeria at a young age to follow his dream. Not only is he a well-loved man around campus and beyond because of his kindness at his obvious skill as a player but he also showed ability in his academics by becoming a dean's lister. He speaks impeccable Tagalog and is inlove with his adopted country. During the recent calamities, Ola wore a shirt dedicating his game to the victims of typhoon Yolanda. Yet through all his kindness he has shown and concern he has given, he is still treated in an appalling manner by certain people. He is no different from any Filipino kid who has dreams, a family, beliefs and his own pursuit of happiness. It just so happens that he is 6'9, dominant at the game and comes from a winning school.
While writing this article, I couldn't avoid but feel anger and shame. I feel angry that people could be so cruel and ignorant to do such things. Shamed that my own people, who ourselves fought for our right to be respected as a nation and as a race would do such things. Racism is a global concern for organizations like FIFA, spending a lot of money to curtail racism. I hope this article would shed some light into why these rules and why our treatment to these student-athlete are wrong. This game is not about skin color or where you came from. This is a game loved by many, so let us not ruin it with ignorant hate. These foreigners are not objects that we can easily disposed, they are people. They are humans just like us. JMP
But thats exactly what we are doing in our own country. The NCAA has enacted a rule that would ban foreigners from playing in the league. The UAAP on the other hand, is putting some thought into enacting such a rule in their own league. This ban was enacted by the schools who advocated it, claiming that the influx of foreigners into Philippine basketball will destroy local scouting thus, will not help local talents, though the national team, Gilas Pilipinas, has acquired the service of a foreign player to shore up the center position. These so called men of upright education claim that we must prioritize our own race than others, yet would cry foul at the very hint of a racist murmur against our very own. They claim that these foreigners do not come here to study but just to play but does not bat an eye when they found out a local player, who happens to be their star player, does not attend classes. This cycle of hipocrisy and politics is what truly bringing Philippine basketball down. The fact that these rules were enacted in response to the rise of teams in their leagues shows that the true reason why they enact such rule is only to bring certain teams down. This is masked by misplaced nationalism that evolves into outright racism. A cycle of hate and bigotry that if not stopped, will only get worse.
Though I should not be surprised since I've always believed that Filipinos are racist. We call offensive names to different ethnic groups that only shows our ignorance to the world community. One game affirmed me that my belief was true. Game 3 of the 89th season of the NCAA Basketball Finals. Whenever Nigerian Ola Adeogun would go to the freethrow line, the whole Colegio de San Juan de Letran community resounded not with cheers or jeers but with monkey sounds and gestures. A Letran alumus was also photographed acting like a monkey to mock Ola. These acts are the most disgusting I've ever seen in my years of watching basketball. That act made me ashamed to associate myself to these people as my countrymen. They do not know the meaning or implications of what they did. As what I said to a friend who's a Letran alumnae, "I pray that you do not experience what you did to Ola that game." Yet I believe that it is more shameful that the institution itself did not do anything about the incident, not even an apology. It is perfectly clear that Letran accepts these kind of behavior from their alumni and students and has no intention of curtailing this.
They fail to realize that these athletes have risked so much to come to our shores to gain an education and/or realize their dreams to play professionally. Young men come here to seek own fortunes, quite similar to a Filipino teen coming to Metro Manila to try out for a college team. The stories of young men such as Ola Adeogun who left his homeland of Nigeria at a young age to follow his dream. Not only is he a well-loved man around campus and beyond because of his kindness at his obvious skill as a player but he also showed ability in his academics by becoming a dean's lister. He speaks impeccable Tagalog and is inlove with his adopted country. During the recent calamities, Ola wore a shirt dedicating his game to the victims of typhoon Yolanda. Yet through all his kindness he has shown and concern he has given, he is still treated in an appalling manner by certain people. He is no different from any Filipino kid who has dreams, a family, beliefs and his own pursuit of happiness. It just so happens that he is 6'9, dominant at the game and comes from a winning school.
While writing this article, I couldn't avoid but feel anger and shame. I feel angry that people could be so cruel and ignorant to do such things. Shamed that my own people, who ourselves fought for our right to be respected as a nation and as a race would do such things. Racism is a global concern for organizations like FIFA, spending a lot of money to curtail racism. I hope this article would shed some light into why these rules and why our treatment to these student-athlete are wrong. This game is not about skin color or where you came from. This is a game loved by many, so let us not ruin it with ignorant hate. These foreigners are not objects that we can easily disposed, they are people. They are humans just like us. JMP
