RP Women’s Team, Handa Na

Mahigit dalawang taon ding di nakapaglaro ang women’s basketball team natin. Ngayon, matapos ang halos dalawang buwang paghahanda, sasabak na sila sa SEABA sa susunod na linggo. Pero maghahabol tayo sa mga ibang bansang nagpatuloy habang tayo’y nakapreno.

 “The other teams have been competing in Level 1 of FIBA, against Korea, China, Taipei, Kazakhstan, while we’ve been stuck in Level 2,” sabi ni head coach Fritz Gaston. “They’ve really gone past us.”

Sa unang pagkakataon, naghanap tayo ng babaeng Fil-Am para palakasin pa ang team.

“There are quite a number of Fil-Ams who wanted to come over, but they couldn’t because of work commitment or because they were still in school,” dagdag ni Gaston. “So it’s very difficult to bring them in and stay with us. But most of the ones we called really want to play.”

 Ang unang Fil-Am na magsusuot ng bandera ay ang 5’7” na point guard na si Vicki Brick. Isang high school All-American, naglaro si Brick sa University of Maryland Terrapins mula 1999 hanggang 2004.

 “For my bio, they asked what was my favorite food,” sabi ni Brick, na dumating lamang noong MIyerkules.”And my grandmother is Filipino. So I said ‘My Nanay’s pansit canton.’ So they knew I was Fil-Am.”

Nagtala si Brick ng 3.1 steals at 4.3 assists sa 26 na laro bilang rookie, pangalawa at pangatlong pinakamahusay na ipinakita ng isang rookie sa kasaysayan ng US NCAA. Noong nakaraang taon, naglaro siya sa Sydney Flames ng Australian WNBL, kung saan nagtala siya ng 40% sa three-point line.

 “Having the honor to play for the Philippines, to possible make history, this is the start of something new,” sabi ni Brick. “And the thought of being the first Fil-Am is a great honor that extended for me. And my teammates, we have a chance to do something that’s never been done before.”

Sa loob lamang ng dalawang araw, nakabisado na ni Brick ang kanilang mga play.

“She’s blended in like a fish in water,” dagdag ni Gaston. “Now, she’s more or less comfortable with her teammates, and running the offense.”

“I thought it would take her more games, but as it is, it just took her two days.”

 “I think we’re very hard-nosed, very determined,” pangwakas ni Brick.

 “They’ve been very accepting of me, which I appreciate. We’re out to make history, and let the world know that Filipino basketball is here.”