I decided to cut class (again) in my MBA program this afternoon to catch the PBA On-Tour game between the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados and the Air21 Express at the new Naga City Coliseum. As previously agreed back home, I have to meet my son Xavier at SM City by three (3) in the afternoon then we will proceed to the Big Dome located just across the shopping mall. A big basketball fan that he is, I can feel Xavier’s abounding excitement to finally see his idol live, in flesh, up close and personal. We bought tickets to the game on the first day it was made available in the market and we have chosen the best upper box seat to catch a better glimpse of the players and his basketball hero.
With a Happy Meal tagged around his arms, a twister fries on one hand and a glass of soda on the other; we walked straight to the venue. Each small step taken that lead us closer to the gates are coupled with endless anticipative questions from the height of the players to their jersey numbers and from Kris Aquino’s separation issue to Baby James’ attendance. From the outside of the arena, fans in B-Meg Derby Ace shirts lined the entrances and the shaded corners to catch the arrival of their favorite players.
I was told by the police officer manning the gate that foods and drinks are not allowed to be brought inside the venue. Lighters, cigarettes, ball pens and any pointed objects are likewise left at the entrance. Xavier finished consuming his twister fries and his drink just as we reached the gates and the fatherly police officer advised me to just keep the burgers deep inside my sling bag so inspectors won’t find them. I willfully emptied my pockets of my half-consumed cigarette pack and my mini-lighter but I told the inspector at the gate that I can’t leave my sign pen (a gift given to me by a friend sometime ago) behind. He agreed then there we rushed to find our designated seat.
While waiting for the game to begin, I provided Xavier little insights on how the teams will do their pre-game drills, the number of basketballs in the court all at the same time during routines, the role of the coliseum barker and the number of basketball minutes per quarter. While chatting, players from the Air21 squad gradually entered the basketball court to do just what I have told Xavier what they will do. He was obviously amazed and was tempted to ask how I came to know those things. I told him watching the PBA games live is what I usually do during weekends back in Manila.
The B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados entered the playing court fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of the game. Conspicuously last to enter the floor was Big Game James. Fans surrounded as he emerged from the dugout each wanting to take pictures of and with him. I can see that Xavier was closely watching his every move during the pre-game routine. He would clap every time James Yap makes a basket and would slowly comment words such as “kulang” and “sobra” when he misses. The crowd cheered wildly as the buzzer sounded to signal the formal opening of the basketball extravaganza.
I saw an opportunity to transfer to a much convenient, near the court seat when everyone stood for the opening prayer. The lower box section in front of us had lots of empty chairs and people from our row started some sort of a mass evacuation to occupy the better seat in front. I told Xavier to go with the crowd and find the best spot for us and I will follow shortly. He did just as what I told him and we ended up approximately six (6) rows away from the playing court. What a beautiful spot. At this location, we can see the players better and could probably hear what they are saying if not of the continuous audio being played to add more drama and excitement to the game.
B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados opened up a blistering 9-0 run highlighted by the back-to-back offensive conversions of Rommel Adducul. James Carlos Yap was visibly looking for his rhythm in this quarter as he struggled to convert field goals and has used the benefit of the free throw line to score a basket. The Llamados looked to be heading for a blowout win in the first quarter but point guard Joshua Urbiztondo and shooting guard Ronjay Buenafe towed the Express within striking distance to finish the initial quarter trailing by two (2) 16-18.
Don Allado, Jonas Villanueva, Jondan Salvador and Jerwin Gaco provided the extra muscles for the Llamados in the second quarter. But their efforts were not enough to put the Express away for good. Costly turnovers committed by Roger Yap and James Yap in consecutive stretch allowed the Express to gain needed momentum to cease the lead for good. Making the matter even worst for the Llamados were the judgment lapses committed by the referees officiating the game. An all important game for both squads is threatened to be maligned by obvious officiating errors that can drastically change the complexions and outcome of the game. The Llamados kept the lead for the last time at the end of the second quarter at 33-36.
The shooting woes of James Carlos Yap continued in the second half. The defense thrown at him by alternating defenders, the face mask he is wearing to protect his nose, the air-condition less coliseum temperature and the expectations of his thousands of fans in attendance waiting to erupt in jubilation the moment he connects from beyond the arc must have added significant pressure to his game. By this quarter, the express has taken the lead away from the Llamados and the fans just seat in silence as they watched James Carlos Yap being pulled on and off the court by the coaching staff, hoping that each re-entry would trigger a spectacular scoring run. In the silence of the crowd, Nonoy Baclao, Ronnie Matias and Marcy Arellano of the Air21 Express took the center stage. The third quarter ended with the Air21 Express on top 53-49.
After thirty-six (36) minutes of intense basketball and deafening silence from the Llamado crowd, the James Carlos Yap believers refused to throw the towel down. Each ball possession for the Llamados are still filled with heavenly hopes that at any given moment from now, James Carlos Yap will hit his target and the crowd will go ballistic to welcome the B-Meg firepower. With less than two (2) minutes left in the final quarter, Rico Maierhofer, Niño Canaleta and Peter June Simon conspired to make a final stand by clipping the Express’ lead down to three (3). Wynne Arboleda and Wesley Gonzales each hit timely three-point baskets to extend their lead. After a successful defensive stop in the ensuing possession, B-Meg took a time out to draw a strategic offensive play to cut the lead to a manageable one. Everyone in the arena believed that B-Meg can pull the play off successfully and everyone expected James Carlos Yap to take the long distance shot. The expectations were right except that James Carlos Yap didn’t make the shot that could have put the house down and drive the crowd to ecstasy. There was unspeakable silence as James Carlos Yap’s final shot bounced off the rim into the hands of their mighty opponent. The Express grabbed the game away from the Llamados 77-69 was the final count.
When the buzzer sounded at the end game, a warm Bicolano applause echoed inside the walls of the venue in recognition of a hardly fought basketball battle. Then there was silence again as everyone in the stands find their way to the exit with their heads bowed down. The night Naga City cheered in silence was the night James Carlos Yap failed to bring his potent offensive arsenal for his Bicolano fans to witness (come to life) in the very arena that’s made to symbolize the Bicolanos tremendous passion for the game universally called basketball.
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