Global Hoops experience

IN the past week where we staged the 2026 Global Hoops International Showcase (GHIS), I got to talk to many parents and their kids as well as coaches and managers about their participation in the event.

- Rick Olivares

And it was quite a revelation for not only them, but also for me.

One parent has been here for the past three editions of the GHIS, each time with a different son. But the third time could be the proverbial charm as her youngest son has been invited several times for a tryout with a college.

Imagine, they all went abroad for a better life, but they are hoping that their children can find a living over here because of basketball.

Almost all the parents I spoke with were born here in the Philippines, a couple were born abroad, and they tell me, they know nothing of life back here save from stories handed down to them. So, this is an opportunity to discover their roots.

Surprisingly, several players I spoke with only came here for the experience and aren't really keen on playing here. I understood. It is a move from the familiar to the unfamiliar and that isn’t easy at all. For others, as much as they love the game of basketball, it doesn’t mean it is their goal in life.