tito cary

when i was younger, i was afraid of tito cary. he looked strict and he did not smile and the legendary and relentless way he trained kuya rosky, franco and randy in basketball was enough to make me stay far away from his way. when he looks my way, i look down in fear.

there was a time that, when he was standing in the terrace, i would wait until he goes away until i crossed to go home kasi baka pagalitan ako!

just a couple of years ago, i got to know tito cary more because he got interested in teaching maui basketball. maui and i both cried after tito cary's rigorous and unoffical sunday training because neither of us were ready for serious repetition with no positive reinforcement. i remember randy coming to the rescue to demonstrate the shots so maui could have a break.

maui himself said it was his "lay-up that lolo cary taught me" that got him into the HS PAYA team. i know maui's confidence continues in sports because of what tito cary taught him.

tito cary got interested in correcting nico and paoi while the boys were playing hoops, just having fun. but tito cary couldn't stand that they had the wrong form so he said "maturuan na nga!"

nico treasured all the training he got before we left. he understands the importance of knowing the basics correctly versus copying the fancy NBA antics. i wish tito cary taught him more but nico will have to carry on.

"ang buhay ay parang basketball" tito cary told me. and we actually carried on many animated conversations about NCAA, UAAP, etc. kaming 2 lang, say mo. "basta basketball, naka-ngiti yan," said franco.

and it's true. tito cary is a different person altogether when he is talking about the passion of his life. he is gentle and relaxed, and always smiling. i hope he gets to coach basketball soon. sabi nga namin, kahit sa la salle. (??) basketball brings out the best in him.