For Bataan’s Achie Iñigo, it’s more than the love of the game

MANILA, Philippines – Achie Iñigo believes he was born to play the game of basketball. As a baby, his father Alex, who once played for Philippine Christian University, placed a ball in his hands. As young Achie grew older, his father and his grandfather took him to PBA games where he came to idolize Bal David and Johnny Abarrientos.

Imagine his glee when the man they call “The Flying A” later coached him at Far Eastern University.

But that was for later. Much later.

As a kid growing up in Las Piñas, Achie fell in love with the game. But money was hard to come by so he played in his flip flops, wore shoes two sizes bigger (he’d put on several pairs of socks), or even wore fake ones that fell apart after a week or two.

“Anything para makalaro,” he laughs.

That included his father giving him simple tests such as making him jump high to reach some keys. If he reached them, he’d play. His father reasoned that something as simple as this would help him jump higher.

Did it help?

Achie laughs once more. “Siguro!”

As a youngster, it was pure love of the game. The story is the same for everyone who grew up playing the game of hoops — playing even way past sunset with not much light to show the way, your mom had to pick you up to eat because you couldn’t leave the court.

“Ako yun,” says Achie.

The game eventually turned a bit more serious. To play so that one could get an education. “At para mabigyan ng championship ang FEU.”

Iñigo played for PCU then transferred to Letran for high school. Come college, there was an opening with the Tamaraws and he took it. Achie found himself playing alongside RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo and Ping Exciminiano in the backcourt. 

“Sa lakas ng lineup na yun, hindi kami nanalo ng championship,” he recalls. “Laging bigo. Akala ko hindi na kami mananalo.”

Then came 2015 where they defeated now Bataan Risers’ teammate Jeepy Faundo’s UST Growling Tigers in the finals. 

“Sobrang saya. After 10 years, nag-champion ulit yung FEU. Masarap yung feeling nag-graduate ka na champion.”

On a high, Iñigo thought it would go on. Drafted by Phoenix that year, he felt stung that he wasn’t signed to a contract. His college coach Nash Racela helped him and fellow Tamaraws teammate Raymar Jose play for Taiwanese ball club Kaohsiung Truth in the Asean Basketball League. 

It was there where Iñigo’s eyes were really opened to life after college.

“Nung time na yun, hindi na lang for the love of the game, kailangan nang mabuhay. Siyempre, excited kami ni Raymar maglaro kahit alam namin na ibang kultura. Pero na-shock kami na walang training facility kami — half court lang. No training gym to call our own. Tapos mga 30 minutes drive pa papunta ng court na yun. Ni wala man kaming practice jersey.”

As difficult as their conditions were, it was a miracle that the Truth won five of 20 matches. And yet, perhaps fittingly, they disbanded after only one conference.

During Iñigo’s three months in Taiwan, he learned to cook, wash his own clothes, budget his expenses and appreciate life and what you have. “Sabi ko sa sarili ko after Taiwan, hindi na ako magre-reklamo.”

He laughs once more. “Hindi ka puwede negative yung attitude,” he explains of his good nature.

“At yung experience sa ABL, nakapag-travel ako. So good yun di ba?”

This has all changed in recent years. He now has a son, Achilles Duke Iñigo, who is his inspiration. “Nung dumating baby ko, naging drive ko na lalo na mag-succeed sa basketball. Gusto ko bigyan siya ng magandang buhay. Ayoko maransan niya yung ups and downs na dinaanan ko.”

And with the Bataan Risers, Achie has found himself another family to replace the one he had in FEU. “Dati for the love of the game yung paglaro ko ng basketball. Ngayon for life na at para sa family. Grabe yung suporta ng team sa lahat ng bagay. Masayang masaya ako rito at gusto ko rin mabigyan ng championship yung Risers at mga taga-Bataan.”

“Kung hindi mo mahal ang isang bagay bakit mo pa gagawin? Kaya para sa pamilya ko, at sa Bataan, gagawin ko best ko.”