The Philippine wheelchair basketball team plays not just to show off their talent but to seek acceptance and support…
by Sara Grace C. Fojas
March 17, 2014
In a basketball-crazy country, it shouldn’t be a surprise that even those who are unable to walk, dunk and jump, can still be able to play the sport.
During the recent Great British Festival at the Bonifacio High Street, all eyes were on the intense basketball game between the Philippine wheelchair basketball team called Pilipinas Warriors and some members of the British Embassy in the Philippines. The spectators could see how passionate and talented these handicapped players were despite their disability.
THE Pilipinas Warriors with (extreme left, back row) their coach Vernon Perea, PHILSPADA chairman Michael Barredo (third from left), and British Embassy officials at the Great British Festival in Bonifacio Global City. (Photos by Manny Llanes)
“We were first invited by the British Embassy to be part of this Great British Festival. It is in keeping with their equal treatment of sports. Ang ating paralympic athletes or athletes with disabilities ang maglalaro,” says Michael Barredo, chairman of the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled – National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (Philspada – NPC Philippines).
The team played a three-on-three game. The only difference from the usual basketball game was that they didn’t dunk and they didn’t have laterals or forward and center guards in the court.
“We are very thankful sa event na ito kasi we got to showcase our sport. Although mahal ng Pilipinas ang basketball, ang wheelchair basketball hindi masyadong napapansin. So we’re hoping na ang mga ganitong event dumami pa para maging daan para mapansin ang mga players natin sa national team,” says Pilipinas Warriors head coach Vernon Perea.
After the game, the players also had a foul shooting contest. Aside from the players, eager Filipinos and British nationals also tried shooting a basketball while sitting in wheelchairs.
What made the game more exciting was when Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy Trevor Lewis and First Secretary Stephen Lysaght joined in the fun.
“It was very difficult. I would find playing basketball difficult anyway. But playing in a wheelchair, you’ll realize how hard it is. You can’t move, not natural. You will try to do things that you think you can do but your body won’t let you do them because you’re sitting down in a wheelchair. It was a very strange experience and enjoyable in a way as we tried to compete with these guys and see how good they are,” shares Lewis.
A paralympian proves that he is as good or even better than able-bodied people when it comes to basketball.
NOTHING hinders the Philippine wheelchair basketball team from playing the sport they love.
WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES
Certainly, the Pilipinas Warriors are not just good at what they do, they’re also world-class athletes who’ve won in various international competitions. Just last January, the team took home the bronze medal in the 7th ASEAN Para Games in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
“For five or six years na hindi tayo nagcocompete, pina-form sa atin ngayon itong team na ito, then after seven months of training, nagcompete again tayo sa ASEAN Para Games and we bagged the bronze medal,” says Perea.
Now, the team is preparing for the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Korea this May.
Coach Perea and the Philspada NPC – Philippines are hoping that more Filipinos will recognize and support the team.
“Philspada and all our athletes with disabilities would like to thank the British Embassy for giving us the opportunity to participate in this Great British Festival and for showing equal treatment to Olympians, Paralympians, and Para-athletes. Thank you very much for that. I hope you will continue to empower the persons with disabilities (PWDs) in our country,” adds Barredo.
BRITISH Embassy First Secretary Stephen Lysaght (left) and Deputy Head of Mission Trevor Lewis get to experience the difficulty in playing basketball on wheelchairs, making them admire the Pilipinas Warriors even more.
ADVANCING THEIR CAUSE
The British Embassy and the Philspada – NPC Philippines have been working together since 2012 to advance the cause of Filipino PWDs.
“We’re working with the government, various senators and Congress to try and make people appreciate the efforts that people with disabilities face in their everyday life. In Bonifacio Global City, there’s access for PWDs, but in other part of the Philippines, there’s none. We believe that PWDs should be treated with respect,” explains Lewis.
According to him, the friendly match served as a great opportunity for the public to see them and understand what they’re going through.
“It’s a greater opportunity to bring them to the public so they can see them because sometimes they’re behind closed doors and people don’t realize how difficult it is. That’s why we’ve been out there playing just to show how difficult it is and how talented these people are. These guys, it’s amazing what they can do with the wheelchair and play basketball. They can play basketball better than I can as an able-bodied person,” says Lewis.
The Embassy is working on projects with Senator Koko Pimentel and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Grace Padaca to develop more awareness on the plight and needs of PWDs. A particular project is providing platforms and easy access for PWDs like wheelchair ramps in various public places.
Lewis says, “People who have disabilities in the Philippines should have a louder voice. People should be listening to what they say. They are people who need help but they can also work for themselves despite their disabilities, if only they get a huge amount of support from the government. That can make a huge difference.”
Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/a-beautiful-game/