What difference does it make when an owner is not simply forming his team for business sake but because he loves the game his team is involve in and he like to win?
In the big stage, players chasing championships often have their eyes fixed on the Dallas Mavericks because owner Mark Cuban shows he cared about his team’s win ability. Cuban, in fact, became the most fined owner in the NBA because he gets involve in referee tussles when he feels his team in the losing end of calls and in-game judgments.
How about Los Angeles Clippers Steve Balmer, who spend a fortune to take over a long-time cellar-dweller Clippers team and splashed more bucks make them consistently playoff-bound and relevant again?
In the local stage, how about a team who gives out uniforms, pays registration fees and sometimes even invites the team to free dinners? All the players have to do is show up on gameday and perform their roles on the hardcourt.
Such is the case of Rommel Basali, Sr’s Isaac teams.
Basali, a native of Besao, Mountain Province, now residing in Baguio City, is an avid supporter of basketball. His enthusiasm is on a different plane as he acts as owner, sponsor, coach and player of the multiple teams he christened Isaac that he fields in the different tournaments of the G-String and Strawberry Cups.
According to teammate Sherwin Galgala, Basali had been doing this for quite some time. He fielded the Isaac teams, named after a dental clinic and also his oldest son, in different Baguio local tournaments for about ten years and seven more since they transferred to La Trinidad.
“He (Basali) is a devoted enthusiast of the game who just wants to give his comrades opportunity to be involve in basketball”, said Galgala.
(See How Isaac fared in G-String Cup 6 Final Standings and Awardees)
Denver Melchor, one of the organizers of the G-String, Strawberry and Liga La Trinidad Cups, acknowledged Basali as one of their most ardent supporters since he started joining the tournaments. Basali fielded four Isaac teams in the on-going seven-bracket Strawberry Cup.
In the sixth season of the G-String Cup held from September, 2016 to February, 2017, Basali fielded a total of four teams in a five-bracket tournament. All four teams reached the semifinals, three appeared in the finals and two got to bring home hardwares.
(Isaac grabs two G-String Crowns)
Basali got to see action in two of them, in consecutive matches.
He donned his number 46 tangerine jersey to join his G4 Isaac teammates in facing Gardenville. He engaged Bracket MVP Jason Serrano in a shootout, firing five from downtown before falling short in the dying minutes to yield the crown. He topscored Isaac with 15.
(Gardenville pockets G-String 6 Crown)
He then quickly grab his number 88 jersey to join his 40s team in routing the Isaiah 7:14 Bulldogs for the crown. He added three more triples to cap his afternoon that day.
24 points, all from rainbow country, in two consecutive games from an owner who also plays is certainly not bad.
What might be even more important to what Basali started are the things that do not happen in the hardcourt. Galgala also said the Isaac group is also involved in supporting and consoling other team members during difficult times like death in the family.
Not bad at all!
The different local marginalized sports enthusiasts who cannot find the right opportunity to participate, join or even just even enjoy sports had been longing for patrons who can give ample support for the entry of teams, organizing tournaments, and other similar activities.
Many of Basali’s teammates are surely grateful for the opportunities he is presenting them.
By: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS