A Filipino basketball passion project comes into fruition
TO open this column, I would like to give my sincere thanks to the Manila Standard for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this prestigious newspaper. Years back, while I was studying and gearing to become a physician, my usual extra- curricular involvements includes writing for the school/ organization paper (from high school to college), and in a way this serves as the continuation of one of my passions, writing, as a professional.
This will also be one of my platforms for my advocacy, promoting a greater awareness and appreciation for Philippine basketball history and culture through collecting memorabilia and meeting people from different basketball communities. It will be challenging, but very interesting and exhilarating as well, and I am looking forward to you joining me in this journey.
This advocacy started as passion project, brought about by free time during the pandemic three years prior. To provide a short background, as a kid growing up in the 90s and back then living very near as well as having easy access to the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong City (the practice facility frequented by several PBA teams), my interest in basketball, particularly its local brands, was ignited. This led me to buy sports magazines at the local newsstands in the market weekly, to know more about my favorite teams and players and keep in step with what’s happening behind the scenes. I fondly remember stashing P5 a day from my daily allowance to be able to purchase one magazine a week (along with the requisite chips and small drink to snack on while reading). However, when we moved to Manila, these magazines accumulated for several years were lost, and through the years, I at times wondered if I would have a chance to have copies of them again.
Fast forward to 2020, with some free time and the magic of social media, I was able to contact sellers and collectors, and little by little I was able to “reconstruct” the 90s sports magazine collection I had decades back. Oh, the nostalgia of having those items again!
In time, as my collection grew, I wanted a medium to share my magazines with fellow Philippine basketball fans and enthusiasts and also for them to do the same with their collections, aside from being a way to share basketball trivia, news and updates. With that The BasketVault Facebook community was created (despite my very limited knowledge of creating and maneuvering in social media platform). From just some friends and like-minded colleagues, it slowly evolved into a 3400+ strong active and heterogeneous community composed of members from different sectors of the Philippine basketball scene, from fans, collectors and social media personalities, to players, coaches and executives, to even a few former NBA players, book authors and other celebrities. The community eventually had a life of its own, with the invaluable help & contribution from its members, evolving into a positive contributor in promoting Philippine basketball history and culture.
Through this advocacy, I was able to meet legends as well as movers and shakers of the sport, be part of important basketball-related events in the country, as well as meet and establish relationships with so many people in the world of basketball, experiences that I would not have had if I did not take a chance and pursue this passion project.
The lesson this journey has taught me so far? It’s never too late to pursue what you love, despite how busy life can get.
Until next week!