End of Drought

If I were to give title to the story behind the basketball scene here and abroad, it would definitely be “The End of Drought.”

Why not?

In the NBA, Shaquille O’neal and Dwayne Wade joined forces to hand the Miami Heat franchise it’s first ever world championship by defeating Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks in six games. It was mission accomplished for O’neal and comebacking coach Pat Riley who made a promise to the South Floridans that one day, the Heat would parade along Biscayne Boulevard whooping up the Larry O’Brien throphy. They sure did, after 18 years.

The PBA also had the same story with Zandro “Jun” Limpot, the 1993 Rookie of the Year winning his first crown in 13 years. Limpot, also known as the Big Deal and the Main Man finally got his long cherished dream when the Purefoods Chunkee Giants, his third team in 13 seasons, uppended the highly touted Red Bull Barako. For the Giants, it was their first championship in 4 years after winning the Governor’s Cup in 2002.

The National Collegiate Athletics Association took the similar plot when the San Beda Red Lions finally ended twenty-eight years of futility by bagging the NCAA Championship against perennial finalist Philippine Christian University Dolphins. Enrico “Koy” Banal, a Bedan himself, couldn’t help but cry with tears of joy as he was given a well-deserved victory ride by his players and supporters. Banal was given the NCAA Coach of the Year award, while forward Yousif Aljamal was adjudged as Finals MVP.

Meanwhile in the UAAP, Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio, the alumnus and rookie coach of the University of Santo Tomas beat the hell out of Norman Black enroute to a gut clenching 76-74-overtime win by the Tigers over the Ateneo de Manila University Eagles. The Tigers, which was seeded third in the Final Four failed to put Game 1 away, but came back to sweep the next two games to finally put an end to their 10-year title quest. Their last was in 1996.

Interestingly, both SBC and UST have expressed their battlecries by the number.

San Beda banners wrote End 28 @ [Season] 82, while UST rallied with Repeat 96 @ [Season] 69. It doesn’t get more interestting to note that both slogans carried numbers that interchanged one another. If it’s not destiny, I don’t know what else to call it.

Without a doubt, this season was filled with a lot of basketball drama. But more than the satisfaction of champioship hunger of previous losers, more than the number of trophies being hoisted up, this season highligthed what Coach Paul Ryan Gregorio aptly put as, “the triumph of the human spirit.”

What we saw in the Heat-Dallas series is the spirit of courage and love for the game of Alonzo Mourning, who despite his senstive health condition still able to contribute in a big way. Hence, he was paid handsomely—to be a champion after more than a decade of numerous tries.

In the UAAP and in the All Philippine Cup, what we have witnessed is the spirit of hardwork and determination. Who would have thought that the underdogs: UST and PCG could overpower the much deeper, more experienced and talented opponent? It was only them who proved that no mountain is high enough for a determined climber.

In the NCAA, believing was the predominant maxim and the spirit that heartened the San Beda faithful. Fortunately, their patience paid off as they finally found the right mentor and the group of players who could turn their dreams into sweet reality. The celebration and pandemonium at the Araneta is a gleeful display of how sweet the reward for patience and loyalty is.

With all that I have seen this year, I think there’s no other absolute source of fun, entertainment and values than sports. It simply goes beyond the norm, beyond physical aspect or the beauty of every set play. It’s simply a culture that is worth our time, energy and money spent. In away, the recent developments in basketball, be it in the NBA, NCAA, UAAP or PBA, has enable viewers to satisfy their longing for more meaningful viewing. It has quenched their thirst for a real, unadulterated “reality” show.

Speaking of real viewing, the 2005-2006 season has been nothing short of being meaningful. It has been the year of deliverance from past failures and futility. It has been the season of the human spirit. It was the season of hope.

It’s a good year, indeed.

With that, I wouldn’t mind being stuck in this time capsule forever.