Beyond the game.

“Basketball is a way of life… If you love the game, nobody can take that away from you.” 

-Michael Jordan

Life’s like a basketball court, there are alot of ups and downs with two ends of everything. Life’s like a freethrow shot in basketball, sometimes you make it or sometimes you don’t. Life’s like an NBA playoff series, you’re not lucky all the time. Life’s like a basketball game, sometimes it’ll make you excited, happy or sometimes it’ll make you cry. Life’s like playing basketball, sometimes you lose but most of the time, you learn. But the best thing I’ve learned through my entire life, Basketball isn’t just a sport, he’s my friend and my life. That is what The Game has taught me.

Basketball was introduced to me when I was just a little boy. At first, I’ve found it boring just like any other sports. I don’t give any damn sh*ts about this game, I was just like sitting in the corner of my room while watching my favorite movies. I was on 2nd grade when my parents forced me to study in province and to live with my grandparents and with my uncles. There, I’m all alone, the only friend i had was a volleyball. I’m bored every time, I don’t even know what to do, I’m all alone in a different place. Just to make myself awake every time, I used to dribble the volleyball beside me, pretend that it is a basketball and shoots it in a rim that was made up of wire, I played with no shoes on and expensive basketball accessories, just dedication and dreams suited up my entire body. That time, I knew one thing was real, this game is everything.

I continuously played basketball with my uncle’s volleyball, not on a wire rim no more but on a real rim on a real basketball court. There, I’ve learned how to dribble the ball, how to shoot it, how to use it as a source of my strength and dedication and how to love it like it’s my own. Because of that, I gained so many friends and even foes, we shared our times together while playing the game we all love, we grew up to be an aspiring basketballers and we never thought that this game will change our life, forever.

Until now, basketball has been part of my life, or should I say, “Basketball is my life.”

To be honest, i don’t feel alone every time, knowing that i have a friend of mine that will never leave me through good and bad times. I’ve been on my most difficult times in my life but basketball has become my light and my guidance towards the door to greatness. When my father died back in 2017, I’ve felt like i want to die too but I remembered the day before he died, He eventually watched me play and I can totally see in his face the pride and positivity. I know He wants me to become a successful basketball player in the near future and I don’t want to disappoint him anyway. I’m still sticking with this sport because I just want to take care of my Father’s honor and for the game that we both love.

Many years have passed since it was introduced to me, many games have played, many game-winning shots were missed, many parts of the body were damaged by some gruesome  injuries, many dreams were captured, many people were amazed, many people were disappointed, many times I fell down, many times I learned, many times I lost, many times i cried, but still, basketball is my life, my brother and no one could ever break our bond. Basketball has been my happiness and my key to escape life’s challenges, it has been my motivation and my source of dedication. Basketball has become my armor and weapon to put all the negativities out of my life. Basketball has become my bridge to success. Basketball has become my greatest teacher and my bestest friend; and most of all beyond the game,

BASKETBALL HAS BECOME MY LIFE. 

-Francisco, Jan Audrey 🙂