Basketball heaven

Thank you, basketball.

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”

Late last year, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and persistent depressive disorder. Embarrassment, shame and guilt — these emotions dominated my thoughts every day. I have a loving family — and two beautiful and healthy kids — what more can I ask for? It took a long time for me to accept that I needed help finally.

It's been a wild ride for the world the past few years — the pandemic, lockdown, and getting back to normal. Wars erupting left and right, and countless tragic stories of poverty; racism, economic meltdown, inflation, and everything else in between.

And to sadly add to that, we also live in a "perfect world" where everybody shows the good, the better, and certainly best versions of our lives online — a double-edged sword for everyone in this digitalized world.

I am sharing my story not to ask for pity; I am writing hoping that somehow I can give someone the courage to speak out and acknowledge that sometimes we need help. Because we all do.

My therapist shared that we needed to find something to look forward to again, outside of family life. We need to take care of ourselves.

And thanks to the Philippine Sportswriters Association basketball tournament — a weekly gathering of the Philippines' sportswriting community — these past few months of my life were injected with vigor and happiness.

After working abroad for almost three years, not knowing I was going through mental problems, I compounded it by shutting myself out from the world, mostly focusing on my kids and nothing else.

But in this tournament, I reconnected with old friends, especially my former boss Dino Maragay, and made new ones, especially with the brotherhood we have built with our team, the Capital1 Solar Boys.

Feeling out of place in preparation for the tournament because of so many new faces, we approached the competition. I slowly got to know our team, week in and week out. Despite me being out of shape and past my best athletic years, the team always encouraged and believed in me.

I was a bit timid in going back because I have not been in the circle for many years. But