Back to 1936

The second round of auditions for the historical basketball film “1936: The Islanders in Berlin” Saturday evening were a big success. Dozens of aspiring actors and athletes made their way to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium despite the traffic and heavy rain. Those who auditioned were given basic training in 1930’s basketball. That meant no crossovers, behind the back dribbling, fancy moves or creative shot-making. Dribbling was like walking the dog. The ball always stayed in front, exposed.

It also meant two-handed set shots (no jump shots), no shot blocking, very little screening, and dozens of passes before making an attempt at the basket. It also meant learning the two-handed lay-up, and underhanded free throws (which went out of fashion after Rick Barry in the 1970’s). The actors also had to learn the old-school hook shot and running hook. That meant the sweeping “sky hook” of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, not the jump hook that started becoming the trend in the 1990’s. The players were both amused and challenged by the task.

The film traces the experience of the Philippine team to the first Olympic basketball tournament in Berlin. The Philippines was the reigning Far Eastern Games champion, having won the 1934 edition in Manila. Team captains in 1936 were Ambrosio Padilla, then already retired and a practicing lawyer, and Jacinto Ciria Cruz, 28-year old coach of Letran College. The team featured veteran players and 19-year old 6’1” center Charles Borck from San Beda. Former swimmer and future FIBA Hall of Famer Dionisio Calvo was the new head coach.

The locations for the auditions were also significant in relation to the film. The first review round was held at the Blue Eagle Gym on the campus of the Ateneo de Manila, Padilla’s alma mater. Ninoy Aquino Stadium sits near Rizal Memorial Coliseum, where the team practiced. At the time, the only other basketball court was at the former Manila YMCA, where SM Manila now stands. It is both a testament to engineering and an indictment on the lack of progress that Rizal Memorial is still in use.

The requirements for players are quite stringent. Players then were lean, not muscular, as weight training would only become part of mainstream athletic training at the end of the 1930’s. Players did not have tattoos, as these were evidence of criminal activity. And players from North America and Europe were all Caucasian, as there were separate leagues for African-Americans. Also, none of the players in the basketball tournament were bald. And of course, all countries except for the US followed the height limit of standing below 6’3”.

The major challenges for the production team (headed by this writer and co-producer: director Arlyn dela Cruz) will be recreating the look and feel of the 1930’s. Adolf Hitler constructed 145 buildings for his Olympic Games. The entire project cost a staggering $9 million back then. German military were everywhere and, though trained to speak English, still flashed their racism frequently. Berlin was sprawling, cold and rainy, all factors the production will have to deal with. Costumes, locations and vehicles all must match the period.

The ultimate goal is to have the Philippine Islands team – then christened “The Islanders” by the German press - is to bring the historical injustice against them brought to light, and give the team overdue recognition. The US was allowed to violate the rules by being allowed to have taller players. Given that the rules provided for a jumpball after every made basket, this made everyone else an underdog. On the third day of basketball, organizers declared a change in the tournament format. Whoever lost from that point on would be eliminated. As luck would have it, the Islanders’ next opponent was the US.

Filming is slated to begin in July, so that the film may be completed within the year. It isn’t easy, but then again, making history never is.