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| Issue: August 2006 |
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| Mga Balita August 2006 |
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| One Sunday Noon with a Legend by: Leah L. Katigbak |
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It
was one rainy Sunday |
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All About Freddie Allow
me to re-introduce the great legend behind Jersey No. 10. - the
power-forward, known for his patented undergoal stabs and medium range bank
shots -
started
playing for MAPUA juniors - Immediately
after his MAPUA days was his amateur stint for the UTEX Team in the Doña Josefa
Edrahim Cup. UTEX won the championship - In
1974, he joined the Crispa Redmanizers in the Manila Industrial Commercial
Athletic Association (MICAA). - In
1975, Crispa, along with eight other MICAA teams pioneered the professional
Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). - Hubalde
got his MVP award in 1977 with Crispa. - He was with Crispa all throughout, from 1974 to 1984. Hubalde was very instrumental for the two grand slams and 13 championships Crispa bagged down in its decade of existence.
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After
Crispa’s disbandment, he joined Tanduay from 1985 to 1986 where he led the team
to its very first championship. -
After
Tanduay’s disbandment, he later joined Purefoods in 1988. Then he entered Shell
in 1989 and Añejo
in 1990. In 1991 Hubalde got an injury and there he decided to retire.
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We
got him back in the PBA court last June 2005 during the league’s 30th
anniversary in the much-talked about game between the Greats (Sonny Jaworski,
Mon Fernandez, Manny Paner, Lim Eng Beng, Ato Agustin, Samboy Lim, Ronnie
Magsanoc, Johnny Abarrientos, Kenneth Duremdes, Benjie Paras) and the Legends
(Hubalde, Atoy Co, Philip Cezar, Bogs Adonador, Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio,
Hector Calma, Jerry Codiñera,
Jojo Lastimosa, Vergel Meneses). Hubalde’s team, coached by Baby Dalupan, won.
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As
to the current PBA players, Hubalde has high regard for our new roster of stars
like Kerby Raymundo, Enrico Villanueva, James Yap and Lordy
Tugade. -
Dr.
J (Julius Erving), Walt Frazer (also no 10) and Michael Jordan are his NBA faves.
About MJ, he admires his consistency on the games and the Jump Man’s
motto. -
Oh
yes! Like father, like sons. All his sons are into basketball too. His three boys
played for MAPUA Juniors. Jeric, 26, later on played for the University of Santo
Tomas (UST), Paolo, 25, for the University of the East (UE) while Niko, 21,
plays for Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC). His youngest, David, 11, hasn’t
developed his passion for basketball at the moment but Dad already taught him
the basics. He only has two women… his only daughter Hazel, 31, of whom he has
two grandchildren, and his wife for 31 years, Cynthia, who is also an active
Christian leader. |
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There’s Something About Freddie Did
you know? -
His
professional career had a tip-off when he was 22 years
old. -
Hubalde’s
love story with basketball started when he was still a kid. Little as he was,
his cousins would not allow him to join them in their basketball games. Little
also did he know, that would be the start of something BIG.
“Sa
neighborhood, yung mga cousins ko puro lalaki so naglalaro sila ng basketball
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As his love for basketball became more and more intense, he has passionately
dedicated himself to the said sport. Asked about other sports he’s
into… “Wala,
wala. Basketball lang talaga.” -
How was the Crispa-Toyota rivalry outside the court? “Medyo
naging personal ang rivalry kasi ang nag-initiate nun, mga fans na eh. Kahit
tapos na ang laro, pauwi na kami at pasakay sa kotse, may mga kantsawan pa rin.
S’yempre may mga die hard na Crispa, so sasagot naman ang mga die hard na
-
He openly shares that the Crispa years was the highlight of his career, with him
winning the MVP and Crispa grabbing two grand slams, plus all the glamour
brought about by the Crispa-Toyota rivalry. But he also recalls how memorable his
Tanduay days were. “After
na-disband ang Crispa, nag-join ako ng Tanduay. Hindi parati nananalo yung team
pero noong nag-join ako, nag-champion ang Tanduay. Isa sa mga ‘di ko
makakalimutan yun. At saka, Christian na ako when I joined Tanduay. It was 1981
when I became a Christian. Very memorable ang championship with Tanduay kasi
meron na kaming mga Bible Studies |
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Coming from a certified professional basketball player himself, how does Hubalde
see the future of basketball in the “Siguro
mahihirapan pa rin tayo sa Olympics kasi unang-una, because of height
impediment. Kung sa talent, talented tayo. Kaso yung mga kalaban talaga mga
7-footer na eh. Kulang na kulang tayo sa height. Importante
rin ang dedication na maglaro sa national team. Yung iba hindi wholehearted ang
paglalaro kasi mga PRO sila. Iniisip nila baka ma-injure sila eh yun ang trabaho nila, kaya yung iba ayaw
nang maglaro. Yung iba naman, half-hearted lang ang pag-join nila. Whole hearted
performance kasi can make all the difference. Mahalaga
rin ang preparasyon. Sa -
What about government support? Does he think our athletes get substantial
financial aid? “Isa
pa yun, kulang ang suporta ng gobyerno. Kung wala pang mag-sponsor, di tayo
makaka-participate. Nagagawa lang natin kung may company or business
sponsorship…. at parang may politics pa rin ang sports
natin.” -
Hubalde thinks highly of the Filipino athletes all around the world. He wishes
that the government can fully support them. |
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“I
see all the potentials…. Ang athletes dedicated silang mag-practice. They are
also dedicated to keep on improving and give honor and glory for our country. In
return, Nothing Ordinary About Freddie Asked how he felt
about this, he simply says, “Sa
akin, okay s’yempre. Maganda ang pagpili nila na habang buhay pa ang mga
players, nabigyan ng recognition. Mapalad nga ako, I am one of them. Malaking
bagay yung ginawa ng PBA committee. It gave retired players a duly recognition
for all their contributions.” “Discipline
and how to take good care of yourself and your family as
well.” and the life he
had? “Oo.
Oo naman. I would still choose basketball. At kung maibabalik ko lang yun, alam
ko na ang mistakes ko, so perhaps the only thing I would redo is to avoid all
those mistakes. Kasi hindi pa ako Christian -
Now at 52, Freddie Hubalde still plays basketball. What kept him
busy? “Nasa
sports pa rin ako. Naglalaro pa rin ako kasi hinahanap ng katawan. Physical
fitness na rin to maintain yung katawan, para maging healthy. Also, ngayon
na-co-coach ako sa high school team.” |
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Currently,
he is the team coach of the all-boys “Nagtuturo
ako ng mga basic fundamental ng basketball sa school namin sa Marist. Minsan din
sa ibang lugar. Last summer, I did the basketball clinic for PLDT for ten
barangays. Nagiging busy rin ako sa pagtuturo sa mga
kabataan.” I
got his smiles and humble resistance when I reacted that he’s like mentoring the
next generation of Freddie Hubalde. “Hindi
naman. The Lord has given me the chance to share what I’ve learned na binigay
Niya sa akin sa basketball. I’m just sharing it to the young ones through these
basketball clinics. -
Has he ever imagined that he would be part of something really BIG, as his PBA
career would attest? With still a surprising spirit, he
answers… “No.
Not in my wildest dreams na magiging basketball player ako, tapos magiging MVP.
Also, yung narating ko sa career ko, hindi ko naisip na mangyayari. Kasi ang
gusto ko lang talaga maglaro lang ng basketball. Yun nga yung kwento noong bata
pa ako, na na-challenge akong matutong maglaro for being out of place with my
then grown-up cousins. From then on, ang focus ko nasa basketball na, that’s why
I improved. I just did my best, in return God has rewarded me, ‘di ko expected.
And up until now, I play
basketball.”
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Message to the young generation of basketball players. “To
the young generation and to those who aspire to play for the National Team,
prioritize discipline, dedication and trust in God. Una at higit sa lahat,
ipagkatiwala nila sa Diyos ang hilig nila, ang career nila, kasi si Lord ang
gumagawa lahat. Sa tingin ko hindi magiging successful ang isang player kung
wala ang Lord sa buhay niya.” When
it’s ALL ABOUT great basketball, no doubt
Freddie Hubalde is still and will always be a great legend.
But
SOMETHING ABOUT his life is more evident
now, along with his sportsmanship, lies spirituality above. All throughout our
conversations, I can see the God-fearing sportsman in him. Likewise, together
with wife Cynthia, he has raised an Evangelical Christian Family who faithfully
does Church ministries at the same time. All
his records are NOTHING ORDINARY and what he continues to do for the love of
basketball, dedicated to the Lord is absolutely NOTHING ORDINARY too.
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| The Crispa Days Legacy |
| A legend of his own |
| Tanduay Rhum Prime Mover |
| From the great classic days |
| Great Memorabilia Plays |
| With two of his boys David and Jeric |
| With his wife Cynthia, the woman alongside his success |
| The love for basketball remains |