Dare to rise

“Dare To Dream” is the title of the book that tells the story of the University of Connecticut’s ascent to the top of the NCAA Division I collegiate men’s basketball firmament in 1999 under coach Jim Calhoun. Today, the battlecry in life isn’t just to dream. More than that, it’s to rise. And over six weeks, Nike recently brought 24 unheralded kids from different parts of the country to Manila not only to live their dreams but to rise in seizing the opportunity for a better future.

Of the 24 kids, 15 were out of school. Close to 1,000 hopefuls showed up for tryouts conducted by five-time PBA Coach of the Year Chot Reyes and his staff to find the players to take to Manila. The tryouts were held in Dagupan, San Andres, Cebu and Davao. The project was called Nike Rise which, explained Nike Philippines country marketing manager Patrick Reyes, was a rare window for young, undiscovered basketball talents to experience professional training to rise above their limits and realize their true basketball potential. Nike pulled out all the stops in making sure the kids had their chance of a lifetime.

Off the bat, coach Chot said he was on the lookout for kids with outstanding basketball skills and ability. “We also looked for athleticism and most importantly, we looked for those with the hunger and drive to be at the top,” he said. “We looked for the person who wouldn’t quit, would give his all for the team and is a team player.”

What made Nike Rise even more significant was NBA stars LeBron James and Paul George making time to meet and even play with the kids during their Nike promotional trips to Manila. There couldn’t be a more inspiring experience than the kids rubbing elbows and slapping fives with James and George.

The culminating event was a game pitting 14 Rise kids against an All-Star squad featuring Jolo Mendoza, Gian Mamuyac and Shaun Ildefonso of the Ateneo juniors, Aljun Melecio, Brent Paraiso and Martin Romero of La Salle Zobel, Thirdy Ravena of the Ateneo seniors, Ricci Rivero of La Salle Greenhills and Perlas Pilipinas star Allana Lim. The 14 Rise kids were 6-0 Algin Andaya of Navotas, 6-1 Soy Vinasoy of Makati, 5-7 Tintin Cayabyab of Dagupan, 5-7 Pogi de Ocera of Pampanga, 5-10 “The Dean” Fudotan of Laguna, 6-1 Kherlie Pino of Cebu, 5-11 Jude Bulan of Cebu, 5-10 Jair Borne Marabe of Tacloban, 5-8 Mico Pingol of Cavite, 5-8 “Mad Max” Torbelles of Manila, 5-10 J. P. Fernandez of Manila, 5-10 John Lester Tobilla of Leyte, 5-4 Chini Espinas of Davao and Vincent Romero of Laguna.

The All-Stars won, 97-73, at the Nike House of Rise on Sheridan in Mandaluyong last Aug. 23. Andaya, 18, took MVP honors after scoring 20 points on 7-of-16 field goals and 6-of-14 free throws. He also grabbed nine rebounds. The only other Riser in double digit points was Pingol with 10. Andaya was in tears when he was awarded the MVP trophy. He was invited by the SBP to join the Gilas Cadets U20 national pool.

“The whole experience was surreal,” said Patrick Reyes. “Aljin never expected to receive the SBP invite. He’s not enrolled and in Navotas, he just plays basketball wherever he can. Before the start of the game, we brought in the parents of the kids from all over and the kids never expected it. Coach Chot gave them the surprise of their lives when he called in their parents in the dressing room. As you can imagine, there was a lot of crying and hugging. These kids worked their tail off for six weeks, practicing twice, sometimes thrice a day, away from their families, away from home. To them, their parents are the MVPs, the Most Valuable Parents. This was no picnic. We, at Nike, provided the technological and logistical support but in the end, they had to prove their worth.”

Throughout the six-week program, college scouts came to visit the House of Rise, a former warehouse transformed into a gym that was transformed into a basketball haven. Nike rented the place for three months. When the program ended, Reyes said several Risers had received scholarship offers or tryout invitations. Cayabyab, who beat Thirdy Ravena and Perlas veteran Ewon Arayi in a three-point shootout with James watching, caught the eye of Philippine national women’s team and NU coach Patrick Aquino. Espinas could be headed to FEU, De Ocera to Angeles University Foundation, Torbelles to Southwestern University, Fudotan to Lyceum and Art Andres, who didn’t even make the final 14, to the Technological Institute of the Philippines. Clearly, the doors have opened wide for the Risers.

Reyes said the Nike platform may be adopted by the SBP as its grassroots template. “We’re hoping to do a Chapter 2 next year,” he said. “Nike Rise wasn’t just a success with the kids but also on TV as a reality documentary series. Episode 1, for instance, rated as the fifth most-watched prime time show on TV5 behind the PBA finals and semifinals. That blew us away. The media coverage was outstanding. The social value of the project was far-reaching. Maybe, if we do a Chapter 2, we could hold tryouts in other basketball hotbeds of the country like Bacolod, Dumaguete and Cagayan de Oro. The public response was overwhelming and for us, very inspiring. Kids travelled long distances to attend the tryouts. This was their chance to dream and rise. Nike couldn’t be happier to give them this opportunity.”

The end of Nike Rise also brought the curtains down on the House of Rise. For six weeks, the facility was a mecca of hoops. Nike even put up a display of immortal kicks and a graffiti wall where anyone could leave a mark for posterity. Twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, the gym was open to the public from 6 to 10 p.m., free of charge. Once, there was a ladies night and over 50 players came to ball. The House of Rise will be missed for sure. But maybe, it will rise again. Who knows? After all, that’s the whole theme of Nike Rise.