Alaska lends hand to wayward teenagers

By Reuel Vidal
Manila Standard

This team has its priorities right.

In the midst of preparations to win back-to-back Philippine Basketball Association titles, the Alaska Aces still took the time to visit the National Training School for Boys in Sampaloc, Tanay to give support and advice to wayward teenagers.

The facility is school and home to close to 200 boys under 18 years of age, who have come in conflict with the law.

Assistant coaches Jojo Lastimosa, Joel Banal, Luigi Trillo and Bong Hawkins led the Aces. Players included Jeff Cariaso, Mike Cortez, Tony de la Cruz, Poch Juinio, John Ferriols, Reynel Hugnatan, Eddie Laure, Sonny Thoss, Rency Bajar, Aaron Aban, Ken Bono, JR Quiñahan and Junjun Cabatu.

Lastimosa led members of the team in speaking before the teenagers.

“Kayo lang ang magdedesisyon na gusto ninyong magbago,” said Lastimosa. “Isipin ninyo ang nangyari sa akin. Nanggaling ako sa isang maliit na bayan sa Mindanao. Dahil sa tiyaga at disiplina nagkapangalan ako at nagtagumpay. Kung kaya kong gawin, kaya rin ninyo.”

Also present were trainers Gus Vargas and Mike Braga and liaison officer Monch Gavieres as well as the entire Alaska support staff.

The other assistant coaches and the players each spoke separately to the teenagers to tell them the importance of hard work, perseverance and prayer.

“Pantay-pantay ang tingin sa atin ng Diyos,” said Lastimosa. “Kung kailangan natin ng tulong Siya ang una natin tanungin dahil lagi Siyang nandiyan. Huwag nating kalimutang magdasal dahil hindi Niya tayo tatanggihan.”

To simulate school conditions as closely as possible, the boys attended high school at the Jose Fabella Memorial School where they interacted with female students.

The boys in the facility were taught not only school lessons but to also learn how to live harmoniously in a community. They had a specially prepared curriculum where they not only studied in classrooms but were also made to do house chores, learn a trade and work in the yard to garden and plant.

For his part, Banal recounted how he never gave up hope even when as a player he injured his knee.

“Noong masaktan ako, akala ko tapos na ang buhay ko sa basketball,” said Banal. “Pagkatapos ng operasyon napapaiyak ako sa sakit igalaw ko lang ang tuhod ko. Pero sa tiyaga nakabalik ako sa paglalaro at ngayon nakapag coach pa ako. Kung kaya kong magtiyaga, kaya rin ninyo.”