Lady ref whistles way to hardcourt spotlight

BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan Del Sur – In the male-dominated world of basketball, a lovely creature from the opposite gender is making a name for herself in southern Philippines.

Not as a player though but as an officiating official.

Owing to her gorgeous looks, you would have mistaken her as a model at one glance.

Yes, she did venture into modelling during her teenage years, even placing second runner-up in the 2008 Supermodel Zamboanga.

But instead of pursuing a career out of being a ramp model that oftentimes offers a lucrative payday, she opted for the tougher job of calling the shots in the hardcourt.

For Adeline Tuayon Sebastian, that is her calling.

The 31-year-old Sebastian turn heads as the only female member of the six-man officiating team in the 2nd Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament at the Lope Asis Memorial Gymnasium here.

Sebastian was a track and field athlete during her elementary days but influenced by her older brother Abner, she started to learn the rudiments of playing hoops.

She then became a varsity player at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School and eventually at the Universidad de Zamboanga that landed her stints in CHED and PRISAA National Games. Her biggest accomplishment as a budding cager then was winning bronze medal in women's basketball at the 2005 PRISAA Nationals.

The following year, she tested the waters of basketball officiating by becoming a table official first.

Fueled by sheer determination, it did not take long for Sebastian to achieve what she desires. She became a running referee in 2007.

"I really like being a referee because you get paid right away," said Sebastian, a BS Criminology graduate, in slight jest. "But I love it the most because you're the one in charge inside the playing court. No matter who the players are, your command must be followed."

The good thing is that Sebastian hasn't experienced some type of gender discrimination in her 10 years of blowing whistles during games.

"I'm just fortunate that the people here are very appreciative of a lady referee like me. That inspires me a lot to do my thing to the best of my capability," said Sebastian, now a proud mother of two.

She gamely admitted though that the road for her in basketball officiating is at times rocky and bumpy. She recalled the PBA provincial match between  KIA Motors (now Mahindra) and GlobalPort in General Santos City two years ago as her toughest challenge she has ever faced.

"The PBA players were very physical with each other. I dutifully called a foul in each contact to diffuse tension but they don't like it. They kept on resenting my calls but I just ignored them. It's part of my job. Somehow, I learned a lesson from it," said Sebastian, who bakes pastries while she's not on a tour of duty.

Every endeavor in life is always full of challenges but Sebastian said it pays to be tolerant and positive always. These are her driving force in every challenge she takes.

"To those who want to be lady referee like me, don't be afraid to pursue your dreams. It's tough but if you know what you are doing, you can never go wrong. At times you make mistakes but stay positive. Do not entertain negative thoughts because it will just distract you and affect your performance," said Sebastian.

"But more than anything else, make sure that you love what you are doing because that keeps me going," she ended. — (FREEMAN)