I will always cherish the memory of my last game in the PBA. After a
less than stellar performance of our team this season, I honestly thought of
just sitting out the last game, being able to already hit my career-high score twice
in the last 3 games. At least I could take some pride in that, and not end my
basketball career on a low note. That was the plan. But I guess God sometimes
has other plans for us – most of the time, even better than the plans we have
for ourselves.
It wasn’t so much about the number of points I scored that day, but
really it was the appreciation shown by my wonderful teammates and coaches. The
feeling of them wanting me to exit on a high note really moved me. I had intended to announce my retirement immediately after
the game, through my friends from the press. But I thought it was better to
postpone it until I had spoken to our team owners, as boss Raymond Yu and Terry
Que politely asked me to stay on.
In all honesty, I took to heart their words and seriously reconsidered
playing another season or at least just one conference. The messages of
encouragement and even an open letter I received, thereafter, from friends,
colleagues, and basketball fans to continue playing certainly made me feel
appreciated. Several tributes were written detailing every phase of my career, even
as early as my grade school days in Xavier School and these made me emotional.
I tried to personally reach out and thank each of those writers, not really for
the praise, but more so because they shared my story and the values I espouse
as an athlete. I felt like somehow my efforts to serve as a sort of
inspiration, especially to the youth, were not futile.
I am immensely grateful to our Lord for my basketball journey, 4 years
as a member of the Gilas Pilipinas pioneer team, 6 years with Rain or Shine in
the PBA. That’s 10 years as a professional and 5 years in college basketball. There
were certain turns of events which landed me at the 7th pick with
ROS in the PBA draft. For several years, I learned to accept my new role
playing as back up to Paul Lee and tried to contribute to the cause of the team
by doing the little things. In spite of that, I feel I could not have asked for
a better team to spend my PBA career with. What struck me most about Rain or
Shine was the sense of family within the organization, which allowed us to
enjoy playing the game even more. Another is its simplicity, giving proof that
an underdog can stay competitive, even without the glamour.
BASKETBALL IS LIFE
Basketball was my life. I fell in love with it watching Michael Jordan
when I was 5 years old. It is also a metaphor of life. The championships, won
games, best player awards are definitely rewarding. But more often than not, we
fall short and get frustrated. Until today, I don’t take losses well and lose
sleep. Over time, I’ve learned to just enjoy the journey regardless of result
or circumstance and used the opportunity to always learn something new – partly
about basketball, but more so about life and people! Despite the emotional and
physical drain, I am grateful for these challenges because they taught me the
value of perseverance, among others.
No doubt basketball has opened many doors for me and allowed me to make
so many new friends, meet individuals from all walks of life, including my
idols. The most memorable I have to say was meeting Pope Francis, when I was
invited to give a talk about sports in the Vatican. I also got the chance to
meet and compete with our NBA idols (and I can one day brag to my kids that I
beat them in 3 point shoot-outs)!
Basketball also served as a powerful platform to communicate my
advocacies, from youth leadership & formation, sports & fitness, to
education, to being kind to the environment, pure love, and even anti-bullying.
In fact, that was one of the deciding factors for me to pursue a career in the
pros.
One of the things I will miss the most about being a basketball player
in the Philippines is having that unique ability to be able to bring joy and
happiness to the fans, most especially the youth, the sick, those with special
needs and the marginalized who look up to us athletes, even just through a
selfie or a short conversation.
MOVING ON…
To be honest, I think I have at least 1 or 2 more productive PBA seasons
left in me. But at the same time, I want to channel my current energy and
enthusiasm into other projects that are sustainable and have positive impact to
the community, some new and some which we have started years ago. I believe
it’s about time I start a career as a full-fledged businessman and live up to
my commitment to the family. At the same time, we have an infant and a toddler
who are growing incredibly fast. I want to cherish every moment with them and
give them my full attention while I can, which is very challenging to do with
basketball where I am overly particular with my training and resting routine.
THANK YOUs
There are so many people I want to thank. I’ve had the privilege of
working with world-class coaches and mentors, who have molded me and my
leadership style (I will pay tribute to them in my Instagram page in the next
few days). I’ve had so many teammates over the years with different
personalities, some have become great friends and I’m happy to see our families
growing together. I’ve learned a lot from each of them! I’ve worked with many utility
and support staff who can barely make ends meet and rely on us for won game
bonuses, yet are so committed. Utmost appreciation goes to the various team
owners, sports benefactors and leaders who have trusted and supported me. Thank
you for keeping Philippine basketball alive and competitive. To my very
accommodating doctors and hardworking PTs who I have to call at the oddest
hours, we’ve become friends and you guys are behind-the-scenes heroes. To the
Ateneo, Gilas Pilipinas and Rain or Shine supporters, you encourage me to keep
pursuing excellence day in and day out. To fellow basketball enthusiasts, I
salute your passion for the sport! To my beloved Tiunatics, more than serving
as my cheerleaders and inspiration, what makes me happiest is when I see many
new friendships among you guys created over the years. To my critics, thank you
for challenging me to constantly improve! To fellow PBA players, it was an
honor competing against you guys! Never take for granted this blessing, stay
healthy and all the best in your careers. To my friends in media, thank you for
making Philippine basketball accessible and entertaining to the fans!
To my family and friends, thank you for sharing my triumphs and sorrows
in sports and outside, as well as being understanding when I am absent in
gatherings. To my loving parents, for allowing me to pursue my passions and
always making sure that the backend is taken care of so that I can focus on my
jobs and my family. More importantly, thank you for constantly instilling in us
important values and always setting good examples.
To my wife Cla who has shared my basketball journey with me for around
18 years now, since we were in high school. She shared all my emotions and this
retirement is her retirement as well. She holds the fort at home and makes sure
the kids are well taken care of despite holding a fulltime job and being an
entrepreneur. She makes sure I get my 9 hours of sleep on game days (plus a
short nap) and personally prepares my pasta diet so I don’t feel heavy during
games. (I will share her beautiful letter to me separately) And to my two
daughters Amanda and Mari, who bring so much joy and meaning to my life, they
will just have to watch me play next time on YouTube. I love you all so much! J
THE DIVINE HAND
By nature, I sometimes want to control situations, and thought it is
possible to be in the driver’s seat of my life. But basketball has taught me to
let go and trust in God’s plan. We get frustrated with tough breaks and losses.
But what I learned from successful individuals is we should simply work hard and
always give our best, irrespective of the circumstances.
And just like in my last PBA game on November 3, 2018 vs NLEX, I poured
out everything, and God really did the rest. What transpired that day, and at
every step of the way in my career for that matter, was certainly a result of
His divine plan. He surprised even me, and gave me more than I hoped for in a
final appearance. To top it all off, I was honored with the chance to represent
the National Team once more in the recent Asian Games after 6 long years away
from the Pilipinas jersey. This has always been my dream. If that isn’t full
circle, I don’t know what is. So truly, I could not have asked for a more
beautiful journey and ending.
Thank you Lord, and thank you all for your support! AMDG!
Chris T
Posted Jan 9, 2019
