someday...

basketball.

yep, that's the first thing that pops out of my mind when asked of philippine sports. billiards is the closest in my list but the popularity of basketball is simply undeniable. playing on dirt or hardcourt doesn't really matter. in the gym or in the street makes no difference. for as long as there is the "basket", the game is on.

that i can compare with baseball in japan.

no question, the pba is widely considered as asia's oldest professional basketball league and that the country has been the dominating force in asia in the past. winning asian games gold medals in the 50's and early 60's, a number of gold medals in asian basketball conference and a consistent gold medalist in sea games since 1977.

with that popularity and dominance, i often wonder why we still don't have any player in the nba.

so close with johnny abarrientos though.

japan on the other hand, which is known in the baseball world, (with major league stars like ichiro and matsui) but not in basketball, will now also be recognized in that field, as the phoenix suns officially included 5-9, 24-year old, yuta tabuse in their 2004-2005 roster. this marks tabuse as the first japanese player to make it to the nba.

now, i continue to wonder.

but, i still believe somebody will finally make it...someday.