Values shared by basketball and religion
Just recently, the Philippines, together with Indonesia and Japan, hosted the Fiba Basketball World Cup. This event showcased not only the skills and talents of basketball players around the world but also the basketball-crazed Filipino fans.
Just observe almost all localities here in the Philippines have basketball courts. NBA legends like Carmelo Anthony took notice of how passionate Filipino fans are when it comes to basketball, saying, “I do think that Filipino fans are one of the best fanbases in the world.” In an interview with CNN Philippines, NBA center Karl Anthony Towns felt the love of Filipino fans and said, “I’ve always said this place (Philippines) is always special. I’ve never been here before, but I could just feel the energy and passion of basketball here.” These comments are a testament to how Filipinos see basketball—it is more than just a sport; it is a way of life.
As a way of life, basketball affects many Filipino fans in every aspect of their lives, even in how they practice, proclaim, and grow their faith. Across the country, churches from different religions have basketball courts with basketball leagues any time of the year. These leagues serve as an opportunity to unwind or entertain the churchgoers and proclaim and practice the values and teachings we learn from the Church. Imagine, without the values of patience inside the court, can a player create a good play? Or, can a team win without the values of cooperation translated to teamwork? How about if an accident happened inside the court? Will compassion and sympathy be suitable for your teammate or even your opponents? If a player wants to excel and develop to be better, that player, above all other values, must first learn the values of humility. Without humility, that player would not listen or even pay attention to their coaches. That player will eventually commit mistakes, inside or outside the court, that could possibly ruin that player’s basketball career. The same value is also needed if we want our spirituality to grow. We must learn the values of humility to see that we need God in our everyday lives. Without God, we would be lost and not grow to be better versions of ourselves.
Basketball in the Philippines has become more than a game. In a country where religion is embedded in our lives, basketball can serve as a way for our spirituality to grow and our faith practiced. However, basketball can also lead to something other than what I have been discussing, but let us reserve that discussion next time. For now, let us reflect on the good things basketball can offer.
Hansson G. Labisig
