Our game. Our pride.

The latest grassroots basketball program
(Photo credits to the owner)

As the Philippine Basketball Association continues to lord it over as the country's premier sports and entertainment vehicle, it is rather refreshing to find other organizations willing to develop the sport on the grassroots level.

While the PBA would probably take it as added and unwanted competition (not at the moment, but perhaps if and when someone opts to invest heavily on another league a la the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association), it creates jobs for several talented Filipinos and provides them with an avenue to showcase their skillset should they not be "good enough" to make it into the PBA D-League.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the Filsports Basketball Association presided by Mr. Lenito Serrano, Jr. and with former PBA star Vince Hizon as its Commissioner.

Now, we haven't had the chance to witness any games live (such are the travesties suffered by an OFW-Pinoy basketball fan) but from what we've heard it's doing quite well. The level of play isn't as good as you'd want it to be, but there are players in the FBA who could very well one day suit up for an ASEAN Basketball League, PBA D-League or pro team.

After Jawo and Before Caguioa, there was Bal

Jawo entrusted Ginebra
to The Flash

Props to the San Miguel Corporation, the Philippine Basketball Association and everyone who was involved in this evening's successful and nostalgic tribute/ retirement ceremonies for the fabled "Living Legend" Robert Jaworski, Sr. But if there was one thing that stood out among the Jawo-related hoopla, it was the crowd's reception to another guy who doesn't even enjoy a quarter of his old mentor's accolades.

That guy is the 5"9, University of Santo Tomas alumnus, Bal "The Flash" David known best for steering Jaworski's Ginebra/ Gordon's Gin squad in the late 90s that peaked in 1997 by winning the Governor's Cup title. It was an insult when someone (now traded) wore the Number 1 jersey a few years back. And even Mike Cortez (who sported the number before going back to his standard 11) wasn't getting that much love from old school fans for it. To many, Ginebra, and the jersey number 1 belongs to just one guy much like Number 7 is Jaworski's and his alone.