to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
The beauty of the PVL games lie in the on-court chess match – the reads, the adjustments, the counterstrikes. The initial skirmishes will tell us how the new recruits fit into the present mold. For the new teams, the arrival of veterans who have championship experience will help create a winners’ culture. The opening salvo promises to provide suspense, strategy and spectacular plays that should define how the season grows.
In this campaign, Gilas Pilipinas carries not just a roster, but a renewed purpose: a blend of elite talent, with seasoned leadership, and a proud Philippine basketball tradition that is ready to compete on the world stage. The path will be demanding – against resource-rich programs, bigger and more physically-endowed talents and disciplined systems – but the triangle of depth, versatility, and unyielding national pride gives them a strong inspiration.
The highlands of Alicia gave us more than a physical ascent; it offered a shared memory, a reminder that beauty, when pursued together, becomes a great, memorable experience. For Buchi, the grand adventure was a spark—one that lit up his imagination and our collective gratitude for the wild, wonderful world he will learn to live and love in the years ahead.
Expect a continued uptick in Alex’ performance as she leverages her experience, training, and competitive hunger. With her resilience as her main strength, plus a combination of power, strategy, and calm under pressure, Alex Eala is not just climbing the rankings, she is redefining the possibilities for players from the Philippines and the broader Southeast Asian region. The journey from SEA Games gold to ASB Classic semis and more is a compelling narrative of talent meeting opportunity. It is another inspiring story that Philippine sports fans in general will want to follow closely in the seasons to come.
As we welcome the new year, I pray that we learn to bring love into each other’s hearts. Let us practice empathy before judgment; let us be present rather than perfect; let us extend grace in moments of frustration; let us express gratitude for everyday acts of goodness; and uplift others with encouragement and genuine praise. Let us learn to listen more than we debate, let us strive to learn more than we assume, and let us endeavor to love more than we fear.
Happy New Year, folks! Here’s a feel-good opening article for the year, about how our cagers – despite off-court eligibility issues thrown at them, and some obvious spotty hometown officiating – took home the gold medals in men’s and women’s basketball in the recently-concluded SEA Games in Bangkok,Thailand.
Color My World 