(Part 4 of a series)

UAAP basketball is more exciting and colorful because of the players who battle it out on the hardcourt for the glory of their respective teams. These guys stood up to the challenge of representing their schools, devoting long hours to training, pushing their bodies to the limit, pouring their hearts out. Fullcourtfresh honors them through this as-told-to special, relaying their tales of triumph and defeat, passion and determination, and dreams and resilience. Here are the young guns, the imports, the veterans, the new blood, the heartthrobs, and the standouts that made this season extraordinary for the country’s premier collegiate basketball league. Presenting: THE UAAP CLASS OF 2011. Compiled by Ericka Alcantara, Kat Angco, and Vyn Radovan

The Next Generation

Jeric Teng, Kiefer Ravena, Ray Ray Parks, and Joshua Webb share what it’s like to have basketball legends for dads and grandpas, and how they’re making their own marks in Philippine basketball history

____________________________________________________________________________

Jeric Teng

You can say passion for basketball runs in my blood. As a child, even without my dad telling me to, I would watch basketball games and play right after imitating the moves of the players. But when I was in third grade, I actually got cut from the team tryout and my dad then thought I had no future in basketball. Although he’s a big man and I am an off guard he’s the one who tells me what I need to improve and all that.

It feels good having a dad who knows a lot about basketball, but, I also feel some pressure to reach what he has accomplished—and he has achieved a lot. He played in the PBA for several years; sometimes, I wonder if I can really get there. Adding to that pressure is having a brother who is also good in basketball. But the good side of that is we’re close to each other, and we try to help one another to somehow lessen the pressure we feel.

My dad and I are really different. Off-court, I guess my dad is the silent type who just listens and doesn’t talk much. I am the total opposite of that. I am the one who talks a lot. He always tells me that I can do whatever I want, I just need to work hard for it. He always watches my game and sees to it that I play well. The most memorable thing he has said to me is we’re all players and I should not be intimidated with those who are older than me.

Now that the UAAP is over, I will be playing in the PBA DLeague. I hope to improve more and gain more experience, as well as improve my consistency. I just want to be known as a player who does his best every game and never gives up, just like my dad.

Kiefer Ravena

I am very fortunate to have them as my parents because they know what to tell me when it comes to being an athlete. My dad is probably my biggest influence when it comes to basketball because he was the one who introduced me to the sport. But I’ve always wanted to play basketball so everything were all my decisions and dreams.

I don’t feel the pressure to live up to what my dad has achieved because he has always wanted me to achieve more than what he got. I’m more relaxed when it comes to playing, and I have yet to get his trait of being a defensive player. My mom and my dad are just like an older sister and brother to me. Our relationship is very relaxed, we’re open to each other. They’re not the strict type that’s why I’m very lucky.

The most important thing my dad taught me are “values in life”. I think that’s very important because for me, life is basketball. Values that you use to become a great player are the ones you also need to live a wonderful life, so those are the teachings that I really value the most because basketball is only temporary. If you have good values, then a lot of good things will really come to your way. My mom is the one who watches my games most often because my dad has conflict with his work. It really means a lot to me when he congratulates me every after every good game.

I want to be the player who is known to give his best in every game, and at the same time a good role model to the aspiring players who shows that if you give everything and you play for God, everything will fall into place.

Ray Ray Parks

Although my dad doesn’t express [how proud he is of me] too much after a game, during the game I can see his face–I don’t really want to boost up my head or anything like that, but I definitely know that he’s proud of me. Since day one, he has been my biggest influence. I started playing basketball at three years old and from then on, the ball was always in my hands and everyday he’s just there to back me up and make me better. He would always tell me to just have fun. Before each game, he would tell me things to help me improve my performance. It’s always different, because every night, we watch videos of my past games. We watch how people defend me, how they get different shots so it’s more on technicality. My dad is more aggressive as a driver. I’m more ambidextrous, I should say, because I can shoot better than he could, I handle the ball more.

Back in the day, he played a 3 spot and a small forward; I played more of one, but here in the Philippines, since I’m kinda tall I gotta play like a wing. I’ve never felt any pressure to match up to what he has achieved. That’s his legacy. I wanna put my own legacy out there. I’m just carrying his last name so I just gotta proceed. Being the MVP this season is a great opportunity—definitely a privilege. Hopefully I can put on a show everytime that the people are out there and they pay for their tickets. It’s always what I’ve wanted—I wanna give them a show.

Joshua Webb

I don’t know how it feels like to not be a Webb. Having a legend of Philippine basketball for a grandfather is a good thing, because it gives me something to aspire to. But I’m Joshua Webb—not Freddie Webb, not Jason Webb.

Growing up, I knew gramps was big in basketball so I guess that’s been a part of me wanting to become a basketball player. But I’m trying to make my own track—of course you can’t avoid being compared to them at times. I just do my thing. I try to make my own way. And through it all, I carry with me the things my grandfather taught me. Always be humble. Be happy with what you have and just always be grounded. Gramps was my first teacher, and my uncle and my dad helped me out a lot, and so has my whole family. My uncle Jason went to La Salle, and that’s a big reason why [I went to La Salle]. Although my gramps doesn’t watch my games live too often because he gets too concerned and he gets excited, my dad and uncle always watch. But since I don’t even see them, I don’t feel any pressure at all. If there’s one thing I want to emulate from Gramps and Uncle Jason, it’s their passion for the game. I never saw my Gramps play, but I heard he was very intense and I think that’s something that rubbed off on me.