Saturday, June 16, 2007 Regino Cua and basketball By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
REGINO "Boy" Cua, may look very ordinary with his casual white shirt, maong pants and slippers, but he has become a byword in the basketball community here and all over the country.
When the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), which he serves as a regional director since 1998, was suspended by the world governing body for basketball, FIBA, couple of years ago, work did not stop for this very dynamic leader. The suspension, however, was lifted recently.
"Kahit anong nangyayari sa national BAP, patuloy pa rin ang basketbol dito sa Davao at sa buong region natin. Hindi tayo nagpapa-apekto sa mga kaguluhan doon sa Manila. (Basketball in Davao Region is very much alive despite the goings on in Manila. We don't let ourselves get affected)," he said during an interview at his Timburana Wood Industries Office in Matina.
He kept the job as regional director, rigors and all, without any compensation. He often spends his own money to keep a tournament or program going. He went on saying, "Love ko lang talaga ang basketbol (I really love basketball).
I even had my own commercial team sometime in 1970's, the Cua-Ceen Millers. That's how addicted I am to the sport."
His sons Reinier and youngest child Milton also engaged in basketball. The elder son was a varsity player at the Davao Christian School while Milton was a key player at the Ateneo de Davao University grade school and high school squads.
Cua recalled, "I started playing basketball since grade school. I usually go to the Holy Cross to play basketball with friends during weekends. I then made it to the varsity team. Now I'm here as regional director. I've contemplated on resigning from this post many times before but I still see myself here. My love for basketball has kept me here all these years."
But he admits, eventually he has to let go and allow somebody else to become regional director. With the new BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Cua was designated as director-in-charge for the Davao Region.
"I will resign soon. I'm just waiting that a new regional director will be appointed by the new BAP-SBP. I'm happy to have revived commercial basketball and began cadets and mini basketball during my term," he added.
When asked what his frustrations were during his term, he replied, "I was really discouraged with the past national BAP administration and the conflict that transpired there in Manila leading to the country's suspension from FIBA. It was a disgrace. We were made a laughingstock in all of Asia where we once dominated in the past."
On the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)-bannered Philippines' team in Fiba Asia qualifying tournament, Cua said, "It's our best team so far. But the PBA is not accustomed to the FIBA rules. Our players will need major adjustment.
It's about time PBA will use FIBA rules just like the professional league in Korea."
Sun.Star Davao (SSD): Is there still a future for the Philippine basketball?
Cua: Meron pa. As long as people in the central office are serious about their jobs, makakabalik tayo (We can go back to our glory days if the national leadership is serious about their job).
SSD: How about in Davao?
Cua: Meron talagang future ang basketbol sa Davao. Pero hindi lang dapat hanggang Davao lang iniisip natin. Kailangan nating mag-produce ng national players. Hindi naman natin mapipigilan ang mga magagaling nating players na mag-stay dito, eh, nasa Manila ang magagandang scholarship programs at malalaking opportunities (Davao basketball has a good future. But we shouldn't be confined to that mindset. We need to produce national players. Let's face the fact that good scholarship programs and greater opportunities for our good players are in Manila).
SSD: What do we need to improve here? Cua: Ayusin at i-improve lang ang Almendras Gym, okay na. Hindi na kailangan pa iyang mga Artica-Artica na iyan. (Almendras just needs to be improved and renovated. We no longer need any Artica Dome).
On the lighter side, Boy Cua works behind the scene and is camera shy. But he's got the knack to hold a conversation with any one from all walks of life. He has that very unique sense of humor that gets you hooked on whatever he's telling you but be ready to give a hearty laugh with his jokes. Otherwise, you'll be branded as KJ (Kill Joy).
