The creation of a professional league, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), in April 1975 altered the landscape of the country’s basketball history locally and internationally.
![Jaja Santiago [Photo courtesy of Japan V.League]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/30jaja.jpg)
Bong, Akiko, Pawie and Jaja : Women of Substance
The deep, powerful presence of legendary bowler Bong Coo, three-time Olympian Akiko Nakamura Thomson-Guevarra, future Navy chief Mary Pauline “Pawie” Fornea and fast-rising volleyball star Alvya Daphne “Jaja” Santiago should be enough for us to think of better days ahead.
The Most Underrated Player in NBA History
Before there was Connie Hawkins, David Thompson, Julius “The Doctor” Erving and Michael Jordan, there was Elgin Baylor. On March 22, 2021, Baylor died due to natural causes.
PBA: The Day Local Pro Ball Made Its Debut
In local sports, the date April 9 also is special to hoops fans. A momentous occasion moment it was forty-six years ago on that day for it marked the birth of professional basketball in the Philippines.
Two-sport Athletes
Where did these guys get the energy to play two sports. Each sport works different parts of the body. I remember Michael Jordan coming out of his first retirement in 1995, reports were saying he was in “baseball shape”, not basketball shape which may have contributed to the Bulls’ demise in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic.
![Stephen Curry [photo credit: Wikimedia Commons | TechCrunch]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TechCrunch_Disrupt_San_Francisco_2019_-_Day_1_48835097887_cropped-1024x826.jpg)
Competing with Faith
As the nation observes holy week, in my 45 years of existence, I’ve seen athletes both professional and amateur, wear their faith on their sleeves.
ONE: Team Lakay’s Sangiao believes Johnson holds advantage over Moraes
In the main event, ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, 12-time UFC World Champion Demetrious Johnson can further establish his legacy as the greatest mixed martial artist in history if he defeats reigning six-time ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes.
A Trip to the FIBA Hall of Fame
There are various Basketball Hall of Fame sites here and abroad but not many know that there exists one for international basketball.
![Andrew Moten biography [photo taken from PBA Annual]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/157004961_230444555430259_1655177595139515852_n1-1024x368.jpg)
PBA: Recalling SMB Import Andrew Moten who played only three games before getting banned
When one asks around, the name of Andrew Moten may not ring a bell. And the reason for that? He only played three PBA games for the Beermen.
The Evolution of PH Volleyball
BaliPure Purest Water Defenders Head Coach Rommel Abella mentioned the word positionless, which is a word you normally associate with professional men’s basketball. What Coach Abella meant was, and again, something I usually hear only in men’s basketball, more and more women’s players are becoming versatile.