Believe it or not, there have been a few instances in Philippine basketball history where a renowned athlete did not shoot the rock with his natural hand, meaning he grew up as a left-hander but subsequently turned to his right when playing ball.
Filipino hard-hitter Rolando “The Incredible” Dy will keep a close eye on the BRAVE CF Lightweight World Championship clash between division kingpin Amin “Fierceness” Ayoub of France and arch-nemesis Ahmed “The Butcher” Amir of Egypt.
Ben Cameron Wallace, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts last Sept. 12, is the only HOF not to be drafted by an NBA team and finished his career not averaging in double-digit scoring.
I met one last Saturday and his name is Rene Barrientos. Around Cagayan de Oro City, he is known as Champ. Champ was one of my guests on my program, Sports For All, together with Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar “Oca” Moreno, former professional boxing promoter Carlo Almirante, one of Cagayan de Oro’s finest sports journalists, Mike Banos and, Rappler and Mindanao Gold Star Daily sportswriter, Lynde Salgados. We discussed Cagayan de Oro as a rising power in Philippine boxing, but that’s for another conversation.
All of us need to force a smile and try to make sense of what’s happening. The Philippine Paralympic team came out without single medal from Tokyo but Ernie Gawilan and company deserve our utmost respect for carrying the flag proudly in the face of superior opposition.
![Julius Randle [photo from Instagram: juliusrandle30]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/134745792_3364772003632227_3332630124278508263_n-e1631454652123-400x200.jpg)
Last season (2020-21), the 6-8 Randle joined Bird as the only players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and post a three-point field goal percentage of .400 or better in the same campaign.
In the PBA’s 46-year existence, only 11 “homegrown” Filipino roundballers have chalked up 50 points or more in a single contest during their pro tenures.
One American player was actually an ex-professional who had already suited up in the National Basketball Association. At the time, the WBC was an amateur international competition sanctioned by International Amateur Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Young man Menelik “Izzy” Israel has an abundance of opportunities that lie before him. Play at Duke University for 1-2 years then give the MLB (Major League Baseball) Draft a shot.
The Lakers, like in the previous seasons, are unlikely to fill up the 15th and final spot until the buyout period in March.