There was a time back in the 20th century (yes Praxedes I was already around then) when Philippine basketball was all hardcore. Playing venues were poorly lit, cramped, ill-kept affairs where fans came in their sandos and chinelas to see a bunch of guys hoop it up. The Big Dome was the exclusive domain of the then burgeoning PBA, and even that was hardcore at the time, when Dunkin` Donuts cost two bucks a piece and were denser then the sugar trap yuppie donuts of today, and you needed a pair of binoculars to see the action from the rafters (General Admission to the young `uns). .

Rizal Coliseum was the only other basketball venue of consequence in those days, and it could not have been more aptly named. The old Rizal was home to gladiatorial combat of the hardcourt variety, with heroes, antiheroes and heels plying their trade in front of limited but raucous crowds. No VIP boxes here, not even an entrance fee. .

This is where the likes of Toying Teves, Django Rivera, Juancho Estrada, Aris Franco, Joey Mendoza, Dodong Postanes, Nap Hatton, Arnie Padaong, Jun Quidilla, Ronald Sy and other hardcore players did battle. They took that term a bit literally at times, with spilled bodies, shoving matches in the lane, knees to the hip in fighting picks, and the popular jewel tap giving rise to such euphemisms as `rugged play`, `tough defense` and `combat ball.` These were the days when aggression drills were totally unnecessary; everybody and his brother practically needed tranquilizers to keep excessive aggression in check even in practice. And to think allowances then amounted to the princely sum of maybe P1500 a month, and some public transport fare.

Whenever I see players now who need an entire support group to daintily help them off the court after a little sprain, or millionaire ballers spending weeks on the bench with a slightly dislocated third metacarpal whatever, only to get into their gas guzzling SUV after the game, I long for these glory days.

Thank Fr Martin for the smaller tournaments that still showcase the non-commercial, non-glamour side of amateur basketball. With the Home and Away League just around t