From Lopa to Bernardino, Pinay basketball had come a long way

Mariana Lopa could not hide her excitement for that they had done to women's basketball, as it was in the news for the best of reasons.

The former Queen Eagle from Ateneo joined Gilas Women's standout Afril Bernardino in the first live episode of Migs Bustos' Off the Record, saying that the game had gone leaps and bounds in the past decade.

"Siyempre excited talaga," said Lopa, who has now become a lawyer on her own right after her basketball career. "Finally, there's something for women's basketball players to do pagkatapos nung college."

More known from being one of the managing directors of the group Girls Got Game, Lopa was part of the Lady Eagles of then-coach John Flores who won the UAAP title in 2007, and for her, the professionalization of the distaff side of basketball through the Women's National Basketball League put a smile on their faces as their hard work pays off for the future generation.

"Usually kasi, wala masyadong choice dito sa Pilipinas, kaya yung iba nag-aabugado na lang katulad ko. At least, meron na kahit paano."

With more than 300 players have already declared for the inagural draft, Lopa said that it was just fraction of the real numbers.

"Wala pa yan sa kalingkingan ng mga gustong magpadraft."

In her part, Bernardino credits the golden glory in the SEA Games homestand last year as a catalyst for their game to be noticed, especially after coming up with signature game after another in both the 3x3 and the full 5-on-5 set-up that basically kick-started the recognition that they can play ball.

"Sobrang saya din kasi yung pinagdaanan namin sa SEA Games is worth it for us."

On the flipside, Lopa's experience back then gave them a glimpse of what a day of a lady cager was all about, given the fact that there are limited opportunities for them after college.

She said, "Pag women's basketball dito sa Pilipinas, at an early age may awareness ka dati na hanggang college ka na. Ang tingin namin, pag naka-UAAP ka parang height na yun, pinnacle na yun."

Back then, if there's any hope of extending their career on the court, the Armed Forces was the lone place for them. And given the competition, they have contemplated already on their plans after school.

"So, siguro mas nakakapressure sa aming mag-aral or mag-isip ng ibang career kasi at that time sabihin nilang walang future yan."

If not for the AFP teams, the girls also had the recreational leagues to fall back for, with Lopa added that they are proud to be weekend warriors in that kind of aspect.

"We also have a lot of leagues. Siguro may 4 or 5 leagues na yung nangyayari, parang you have to be certain number of years out of college para medyo pantay-pantay."

However, when the recent domination of Patrick Aquino's National University in the past decade was being noticed, both of them agreed that the growth was organic and it was something to cheer about with the tightly-knit community that they had.

"Nakita ko naman yung difference ngayon, from dati nung first time na ngayon na sobrang laki talaga ng pinagbago ng women's [basketball]," said Bernardino, who won half of NU's unbeaten six-peat from 2014-16.

Lopa added, "Time namin, never mo makikita any feature on women's basketball. Siguro yung maganda dun, the way it grew, sobrang organic."

"And dahil tingin ko, sobrang excellent ng NU. Malaking bagay yun. Naging kwento na several years champion, wala talagang nakakatalo."

She then followed it up that what sets them apart from the men's side that we usually see is that the collective effort was more recognized than the personality.

"Kahit sobrang galing ni Afril, one of a kind talent, hindi individual yung na-highlight. Talagang yung team excellence and skills talaga yung na-highlight, not personality."

Now with the game already on its newest high, Lopa had said what she had to say, and being the elder in the game, she had passed the baton of the game to Bernardino who now had a bigger responsibility.

Lopa advised, "Siguro, acceptance siya na hindi entirely personal yung life mo. Acceptance siya that people are always looking at you. You have to always present yourself as a responsible athlete."

"Kelangan niyo din maintindihan yung responsibility niyo in growing the game. Parang yung skills and gifts na meron kayo, sobrang never pa nagkakaroon ng ganitong exposure and the fact na meron kayong chance na parang you're giving young girls hope din. "

Then, she congratulated everyone on the hard work just to get there, saying that it will be a collective effort to not just enjoy the fruits of the labor, but also to remind them of their humble roots for the future of the game.

"Do it well, represent us well. Show everybody that this is a worthy investment that is sustainable for a long long time."

FILE Photo: Erwin T. Cabbab, FIBA