Jommel Parquez may be lacking in height to be a superstar player in any team, but nobody can deny his love for the game of basketball. He began playing basketball at the age of ten (10) when he was a grade four (4) student at Cataning Elementary School in Balanga, Bataan.
Because of basketball, he was able to gain new friends who eventually became his teammates. Just like most of the pinoy kids at their age, he and his friends enjoyed playing basketball right after their classes.
"Sampung taon (10) gulang pa lamang ako noon, sobrang nahilig ako sa Basketball hanggang sa makasali ako sa team ng aming paaralan. Dahil po sa basketball nagkaroon ako ng mga tunay na kaibigan. Araw-araw ko po silang kasama at lagi kaming naglalaro ng basketball kaya naisip po namin na sumali sa liga sa aming baranggay tuwing summer, said Jommel Parquez in a chat interview with Ligang Pinoy."
Basketball, somehow, became an addiction for Jommel Parquez. There was even a point that his father scolded him for being in the basketball court every single day. For some reason, he argued with his father which led him to leave their house. He was homeless for a while so he opted to sleep in the neighborhood basketball court and crashed his friend's place on some nights.
"Lagi ako nasa court, halos araw araw talaga ako nag lalaro. Nagalit yung tatay ko sa akin kasi araw-araw ako wala sa bahay tapos panay na lang gabi yung uwe ko. Hanggat nakakapag laro kasi ko sa court, di po talaga ako umuuwi kaya po nagalit yung tatay ko sa akin. Nagtalo kami tapos lumayas ako sa bahay namin. Tumuloy ako dun sa court at doon ako natutulog sa cover court namin ng tatlong araw bago ako nakituloy sa bahay ng barkada ko, recalled Jommel Parquez."
At the age of twelve (12), Jommel Parquez and his friends formed a team in order to join summer basketball leagues in their barangay. Their first stint was a disaster as they failed to notch even a single win.
Their second (2nd) and third (3rd) seasons were nothing better either. They became the whipping boys of the league as they suffered losses game after game. Nonetheless, they didn't mind the losses as they enjoyed playing basketball.
Their fate changed the following season. Being teammates for three (3) consecutive seasons, their team chemistry and their individual skills had improved by leaps and bound so much so that they reached the finals.
But as fate would have it, the finals was cancelled due to a violent brawl between the contending teams. In the end, both teams were declared champions.
"Noong sumunod na summer league, magkakasama ulit kaming mag kakaibigan sa isang team. Gumanda ang laro namin hanggang makapasok kami sa finals. Sa game 1 ng best of three (3) series, panalo kami. Noong game 2, sobrang init ng laro hanggang nagkagulo at nahinto ang laro. Hindi na tinuloy Yung liga Wala naman nasaktan sa bawat team. Sayang isang panalo nalang Champion na kami. Dahil sa gulo, hindi na tinuloy yung liga at dahil parehas ayaw mag patalo ng dalawang team, parehas kaming naging Champion, explained Jommel Parquez."
It was an unfortunate turn of event for Jommel Parquez and his team as they were just a win away from winning the championship. While they were still champions, or at least co-champions, it would have been a sweet fairy tale ending for their winless seasons if they were declared the one and only champion.
Be that as it may, Jommel Parquez and his team returned in the next season of their barangay summer league to defend their crown. It was an amazing run for his team as they were able to reach the Championship for the second straight year.
Incidentally, they were pitted for a rematch against their fellow champion the previous season. It was the deciding series to finally determine who is the rightful champion.
Jommel Parquez' squad dropped game one (1) but they bounced back in the second game to even the series. In the third and final game, lady luck was not in their favor as their opponent took home the championship trophy.
"Hindi kami nag champion pero okey Lang natapos naman Ng maayos at walang gulo ang liga."
Jommel Parquez' father has discouraged him not to pursue a professional basketball career since he was small compared to others. Standing at just 5'3, his father thinks that he can go nowhere with basketball andthat he should just focus instead in his studies.
Instead of heeding his father's advice, Jommel Parquez did the opposite. He was so much into sport that he even pursued a career in boxing. As a matter of fact, he stopped his studies just to obtain a professional boxing license from the Games and Amusement Board.
His boxing career, however, was short lived. In his first match, he was knocked out cold which made him hang his gloves.
"Yung pagbo-boxing ang dahilan kaya ako nahinto noon sa pagaaral ko. Naging professional boxer na ako kaso lang hindi naman ako nagtagal sa boxing dahil natalo ako by knock out at bugbug inabot ko sa unang Laban ko. Naisip ko na mas wala akong mararating sa boxing. Sakit lang ng katawan yung maidudulot sa akin nun."
As he realized that boxing was not really for him and that a professional career in basketball is far-fetched, Jommel Parquez is continuing his studies as a grade 12 student at Asia Pacific College of Advanced Studies.
"Sa mga kabataang nangangarap at mahilig din sa sports maging disiplinado Tayo at wag papabayaan ang pag aaral."
He is currently taking up Accounting and Business Management (ABM) in preparation for his dream course, BS Criminology. He hopes to be a respected policeman one day in order to serve and protect his fellow Filipinos especially the abused and oppressed.
"Gusto ko maglingkod sa bayan, makatulong, at maipag-tanggol ang mga inaabuso"
Big words from a young man. We hope you get to achieve your plans and be of service to our country. Carry on!
You might also want to read the story of other aspirants:
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