bola.

i don't know what it is with an inflated leather ball going through a circular metal hoop that makes it so popular a sport. well, i can give you some theories about it. from Freudian psychoanalysis to modern capitalist commercialism. but those are only theories.

if i were to be sure with one thing, this is it: I LOVE THIS GAME!!!

Today, after 2 long Lasallian UAAP Basketball light years, the crown is back to Taft! (Sa wakas, nakatikim din ng championship ang ID 103). And how sweet the smell of success is! We fought a good fight. From a dismal performance at the start of the season, we made the longest winning streak for season 67 with 10 straight wins. We were the underdog. FEU was poised to win a back to back. But the Green Animo (FEU has been using the word Animo in the UAAP a lot longer than us -- Mahilig sila manggaya ng cheers pero we have to credit them with this one) emerges victorious in the end.

I hate to taint this triumph with a rant but... (hey, this is MY BLOG anyway, is it not!) I'll make up for it na lang in the later part, promise. :p

I shoot for our schoolpaper. And for more than 4 years (and no, i'm not that old. I'm only 21 -- oh shux. yeah yeah. fine. im old), I have covered different events like street demonstrations and awarding ceremonies. But nothing beats covering the UAAP Games.

Yes, I agree that it is sad that the first thing that pops into mind is good old basketball, well in fact, there are about 15 to 17 other teams that bear the green banner for the school. I was just mentioning this afternoon to one of the younger people in the publication how hypocritical we are in the newspaper to criticize the students and the administration (and most especially the alumni) for limiting their support to the men's basketball team while, there we were discussing the stench of the system, 30 minutes before the game, texting friends and other "secret sources", trying to figure out how we can get tickets. We were praying to get in.

Courtside seats, courtesy of moi. (Thanks Betsy for the tip. Sayang wala ka sa game. You would have been proud of little brother toni). But when one sits with the older photographers, it is hard not to get insecure with the size of their lenses (no, this is not Freudian). Also, I feel sorry for myself when everytime i am reminded that their digital SLR's can shoot 15 consecutive frames in a second and can store up to 600 shots (full reso). So, with a measly Nikon FM10, I had to depend (as i have always done) on my resourcefulness. I really hope the pictures turn out good (pictures to follow).

2 shots left and there's still 5 mins of game time. my fault, my consternation. (Film bugetting has nothing to do with me quitting Financial Management.) So -- save the two shots for the post-game -- manalo, matalo, i need to get shots of the ceremony.

Ranting ends here.

2.26 seconds on the game clock. DLSU 66, FEU 65. Macmac Cordona is on the freethrow line for 2. The crowd is on an uproar (including me -- I was actually trying to coach Cordona: Tol! isa lang... kahit isa lang...) He makes both.

The rest is history.

This day is quite special. Not only because of the basketball championship. More importantly, what makes this day one of the best in my life is that i felt that camaraderie and sense of belongingness that every school spirit stands for. For one, di lang ikaw ang nagagalit sa kabilang team dahil ginagaya nila ang cheer mo. Yung mas obvious, when the team wins, the school wins -- when the teams loses, it has the school to give consolation. Pero, luma na lang din yun di ba?

If the record of the school stands at 5 championships in 7 years, mine is 3 in 5.

What makes this day special for me is the "thanks" i got from 2 of the younger editors. To begin with, they were not supposed to go to Araneta. Ck and I just convinced them to come. It was their first time to watch the game live. So, Ck and I got to our magic tricks and voila! Tickets! Pero, GenAd lang. Then I remebered last Sunday when my friend Betsy, one of the senior correspondents, got me a pass for the courtside. I remembered how she did her best to get me in, trying all the daya in the book. I was touched. I was with her in EDSA 2, in Mendiola and of course, in Araneta during the champioship series in 2000, 2001 and 2002. As a sign of gratitude, I wanted to share that care and concern for a kapwa mamamahayag, a kapwa PLARIDEL. Ck was also expecting to have some problems with his pass but I know he will manage without my help. "Kaya niya na yan." Ruby and DeeAye got to sit at courtside on their first live game. And they got to sing the Alma Mater hymn at centercourt with the athletes. Ruby, you have no idea how happy you made me today. DeeAye, nasabi ko bang wala ka pang ticket? =)

Another highlight of the day is the fact that i have confirmed to myself that I am okay. Losses from the past have made me weak, made me lose trust on myself and on whatever i consider as Good (take note that "G" is written in the uppercase). Pinilit kung bumangon ngunit muli't muli akong binibigo ng sarili kong diwa. Muli't muli, hanggang sa dumating ang ngayon. The injuries have healed somewhat and I find myself caring again. Sa dagat ng mga taong nagdiriwang, higit ka sa madla, higit ka sa pagdiriwang, higit ka sa lahat.

If only we can rejoice every moment of our lives.

We can. We should.

Actually, there is still one part of the day that i hated. When we got back to school, there was no food! Well, there was really. But it was for the alumni (alumni talaga o!) and the athletes. Okay lang, may bukas naman e.

Tomorrow, I will be happy. Bilog ang mundo.