Behind every jersey number, there is a story. Sometimes major, other times mundane; but one way or another, there’s a reason a player dons a certain number when they rock the courts.
Ever wondered what’s the story behind the jersey number of your favorite basketball players? Our team crashed the practices of some of your favorite PBA and collegiate teams to find out. Without further ado, here are the jersey stories of some of the country’s finest ballers:
1. Thirdy Ravena, Ateneo Blue Eagles (#0)
“So Thirdy, of all the numbers you chose #0. Can you tell us why you chose this number?”
“Well initially 0 wasn’t my number. It was just recently that UAAP allowed 0 to 99, and I chose #0 primarily because I’ve been through a lot in my life. I’ve had a lot of struggles, especially right after my first year when I wasn’t allowed to play in the upcoming season because of my grades. I had to go a full year off, and I wasn’t allowed to practice with the team whatsoever so I had to do things on my own.”
“So when they allowed #0, I chose it because that’s the number of people that can stop me from chasing my dreams. I use it as my motivation and reminder that you can go through a lot in life, but it’s really up to you what you’re gonna do about it.”
2. Calvin Abueva, Phoenix Pulse Fuelmasters (#8)
“Calvin, tell us the story behind your decision to revert back to your original jersey number, #8.”
“Actually, simula nang dumating yung maraming personal struggles sa buhay ko, dinoble ko yung #8 sa jersey ko at ginawa kong #88, para baka sakaling dumoble rin yung blessings sa buhay ko. Pero ngayon actually, bumalik na ako sa #8 kasi bukod sa ito yung pinakamalapit sa infinity sign, 8 din ang date ng kasal namin ng asawa ko.”
3. L.A. Tenorio, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (#5)
“Teniente, bakit nga ba 5 ang jersey number niyo?”
“I picked #5 because September 5 is the anniversary of me and my wife.”
4. Arwind “Spiderman” Santos, San Miguel Beermen (#29)
“Sir Arwind, maari ba naming matanong lang kung ano ang jersey number mo at kung bakit iyon ang napili niyo?”
“Ang napili ko 29. Dapat 19 kasi yun yung number ko nung nasa FEU pa ako, kaso nung na-draft ako sa Air 21 last 2006, hindi binigay sakin yung number na yun kasi nakuha na siya ni Wynne Arboleda.”
“Kaya ko nakuha yung 29… kasi in-add ko nalang yung birthday ko (June ‘10’) sa 19 para maging 29. Pero maliban don may isa pang reason bakit 29… kasi monthsary namin ng asawa ko yung 29. Yun yung araw na sinagot niya ako.”
5. Paul Lee, Magnolia Hotshots (#3)
“Idol, why’d you end up with 3 as your jersey number?”
“20 dapat on my first game sa Rain or Shine, pero hindi na siya available. Next option was 6, but that wasn’t available too, so I ended up with 3 because that’s the number of my idol, Dwayne Wade.”
“So does that mean your play style is inspired by D.Wade too?”
“Yes. If you go to Youtube and watch some of the clips of D.Wade and my clips, you’re gonna see it.”
6. Matt Nieto, Ateneo Blue Eagles (#12)
“So Matt, would you mind telling us the story behind #12?”
“Well, dapat 7 talaga, but since I have a twin, Mike, kinuha niya yun kasi parehas sila maglaro ni daddy. Ginawa kong 12 yung number ko kasi actually yun yung binigay sakin na number sa first varsity ko sa Ateneo. Nung high school, nag-change ako sa 5 para maiba lang. Pero nung pag step-in ko sa college, binalik ko sa 12, to finish what I started for Ateneo. I want to finish my basketball career in Ateneo with the same number I started it with.”
7. Mike Nieto, Ateneo Blue Eagles (#7)
“We heard Matt’s jersey story a couple of days ago. Now it’s your turn Mike. Why did you choose #7?”
“Number 7 ako because that’s the jersey number of my father when he was still playing for Ateneo. Ever since I started playing, everyone would tell me that I play like my father. Also, dream kasi namin ni Matt mag-champion kagaya ni daddy, na nanalo ng back-to-back championships during his time. Ngayon na nag back-to-back champion na rin kami, ang goal namin ngayon ay talunin ang legacy ng tatay namin. Hopefully, next season makapag 3-peat kami.”
8. Doug Kramer, Phoenix Pulse Fuelmasters (#10)
“Doug! Tell us why you chose to pick #10 as your jersey number.”
“Sure. When I was in Ateneo, I really wanted to wear #10 because it represented my birthday, which is on July 10, but I didn’t get to wear it right away because Rich Alvarez got it first. I ended up choosing #18 because back then I was an 18-year-old freshman.”
“Luckily, now I’m wearing it in the PBA conference. Justin Chua got #18 (my original number). He’d been bugging me to use #18 for this conference kasi that’s his number.”
9. Mark Barroca, Magnolia Hotshots (#14)
“Mark, bakit nga ba #14 ang jersey number mo?”
“#4 talaga yung gusto kong number kasi yun na yung number ko nung college pa. Kaso meron ng #4 sa team, si Rafi Reavis.
Kaya pinili ko na lang ang #14 kasi ito yung birthday ng asawa ko. Dedicated para sa kanya yun, kasi before ako mag-PBA, napangasawa ko na siya eh.”
10. Alvin Patrimonio, PBA Legend & Four-time MVP (#16)
“Sir Alvin, tell us the story behind your jersey number, #16.”
“Well, nakuha ko kasi yung #16 sa dad ko. Gusto ko kasing i-honor siya, kasi yun yung jersey number na suot niya nung naglalaro pa siya sa JRC.”
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It goes without saying that the best jerseys are the ones with a story behind it.
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