10 Filipino lads uplift communities through basketball

It’s always been inspiring to see how hard work can pay off in achieving your dreams. Recently, a group of young, aspiring basketball players from the Visayas and Mindanao region competed with each other during the Alaxan FR Galing Mo! National Camp held at the Unilab gymnasium in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

L-R: Tyke Bano (Iloilo), Dan Audris Lagbas (CDO), Rio Ballentes (Iloilo), Carl Soreno (Dumaguete), Rhys Jefferson Flores (MVP) (CDO), Rhodelle Nagac (CDO), Michael Kent Salado (CDO), Miguel Plata (Davao), Gabriel Dagangon (Davao), and Josuel Macarine (Dumaguete) bested 40 other representatives in the three-day basketball camp through their dazzling display of heart and athleticism.

The young athletes received a P100,000.00 worth of infrastructure project for their respective barangays, on top of a P20,000 cash incentive. Their exemplary performance got the nod of the camp directors, led by no less than basketball legends Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Benjie Paras, Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos, and Ronnie Magsanoc.

A tradition of hard work and dedication

Last year, the same basketball legends inaugurated the Courts of Inspiration, which are volunteer-built basketball courts made by the local volunteers from the partner villages in Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Tacloban, and Cebu for the Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Butuan, Davao, and Saranggani for Mindanao. The aim of the project was to inspire communities so they can achieve greatness through hard work, after building a basketball court entirely on their own. The legends themselves even left handprints on special concrete markers within the structure, reminding people of what hard work and dedication can bring to a community that works together for a noble cause.

FOR THE COMMUNITY, BY THE COMMUNITY. Philippine basketball legends leaving handprints reminding people of what hard work and dedication can bring to a community that works together for a noble cause

The same hoop icons returned to the partner communities early this year to continue the advocacy—not to build more sports venues, but to see how hard the youth have worked to improve their basketball skills on the Courts of Inspiration. After conducting basketball clinics, the legends handpicked the best players, who then flew to Manila to represent their communities in the national leg of the Alaxan FR Galing Mo Camp.

The aim, this time, was to reward those who trained hard in the Courts of Inspiration to perfect their basketball skills.

Giving back to the community

After winning the tight competition, the winners are now set to return the favor to the communities that hand-built their hometown basketball courts.

“My friends and I plan to help promote the game of basketball further by improving the basketball courts back in our province,” said MVP Rhys Jefferson Flores, who bared his plan to add roofing and proper lighting to existing playing venues.

“What I learned from this experience is something that I will remember from this day forward: always give your 100% not just to improve your character but, more importantly, to help others make their lives better.”