18/12/2023
Breaking down the historic moment on February 22, 1911, in Manila's Wallace Field, now the site of the National Library, we witnessed the birth of organized basketball in the Philippines. The first national championship, part of the Carnival Games, featured a groundbreaking yet modest beginning for the sport.
With teams of six players each, Normal School and Batangas faced off in the inaugural game. The referee's whistle marked the start of a match that, frankly, bore little resemblance to the elegant basketball we know today. It was a raw display, far from the sophisticated game it would later become.
A unique aspect of this historic event was its participants: all were women. In a 35-minute showcase of defensive commitment, these pioneers displayed a fierce energy, though their scoring skills and techniques were still developing. According to Noel Albano, author of the historical book “When We Were Champions,” The Manila Times, reporting on this event the following day, found the game amusing but was left unimpressed.
Their sports page headline read, "Girls teams play hot basketball game." The article described the match as fiercely competitive, akin to the standards of their American counterparts. The girls from Normal School ultimately triumphed over Batangas, 10-2, in front of an enthusiastic Filipino crowd.
This inaugural game left the first generation of fans with mixed feelings about the sport's potential. The Manila Times noted the game's occasional brutal intensity. The players, driven by passion, often overlooked the usual rules, leading to a match where fouls and minor injuries were more common than points scored.
As the final whistle blew, these early observations seemed secondary in the grand scheme of the Carnival. The basketball game was just a fragment of the day's attractions, overshadowed by the spectacle of American aviators captivating the audience with their aerial feats.
In the days following, Tondo Intermediate School, under the guidance of their American coach Mr. Donahue, clinched the basketball championship. In a finals showdown against Normal School, among a field of five teams, Tondo emerged victorious. However, the quality of play remained a topic of critique. The Manila Times, in its coverage, remarked on the lackluster offensive display, noting, ”The scoring machinery was not so highly developed.” This commentary underscored the developing state of basketball in the Philippines, a game still in its infancy, yet to evolve into the dynamic and skillful sport we recognize today.
Yet, this modest beginning laid the foundation for a sport that would deeply root itself in the cultural fabric of the Philippines.
The image accompanying this post is an artistic illustration of the event, not a historical photograph.
📑 Noel Albano; Joaquin Henson
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