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Sports in the Philippines?

My gradma told me that baseball was actually popular back in World War II when the Americans were in the Philippines. But it doesn't seem to be the case these days and I don't think it will ever catch on. Filipinos LOVE basketball and like to compete internationally (especially in Asia). However, most Filipinos are pretty short compared to people from other countries. LOL....I can't imagine a 5'10" Filipino basketball player guarding 7'4" Yao Ming or trying to post up against Shaq in the paint. I mean if your tallest guy is 5' 10" how does he guard Shaq or Yao? *Do Filipinos have an interest in baseball? I mean you don't have to be physically imposing against your opponent. Plus its always hot in the Philippines sort of like Latin American countries. There are lots of successful baseball players from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama. Most of which are 3rd world countries that have produced baseball player that are now millionaires. Also there are baseball players from Japan and Taiwan who are really really short and skinny (compared to US atheletes) that have made millions playing in the US. I think if Filipinos had as much passion for baseball that they do for basketball that they would actually be pretty good at it. Especially when you consider factors such as living in hot weather all year and the fact that you don't need size to play the sport. *Soccer is also popular around the world. I don't think you have to be physically imposing to play the sport. You don't need to spend a lot of money and buy a lot of equipment. Just need a ball to kick around. Some of the poorest countries have done really well in soccer. I've seen a couple of soccer commercials on TV but never really seen any real interest in soccer either. **I think we could forget about American Football.....Those are the biggest and fastest atheletes out there.... I think the average Pinoy would get killed if they were hit by Brian Urlacher or Shawn Merriman!!!!

Public Comments

1. You have a point. Filipinos being with South East Asian features should be into Soccer or Baseball. Leave Basketball to the Africans and Caucasians. Manny Pacquaio didn't get rich by basketball nor Efren Reyes.
2. Soccer is probably the best way forward. If you look at the English PL/Bundesliga you do see that there are many physically imposing players however if you look at Spanish La Liga, Serie A(to some extent) and South American leagues you can see that technique in the way forward.
3. yeah i agree.. but there are some filipinos who are actually tall but not too common.. and i don't think short guys should be guarding shaq or yao.. but they could be great point guards though.. but.. i agree that filipinos should play SOCCER or baseball instead of basketball coz of our south east asian features.. basketball is probably the most played here coz it doesn't need a lot of space.. as in case of soccer/baseball, it'll need a bigger space.. well there was one filipino back then who made his way to fame.. his name is Paulino Alcantara,, he was a player of FC Barcelona who was discovered here in the Phils.. i think he was the all-time top scorer of the club.. up until now (i think).. Boxing and billiards is also a famous sport here..
4. you can forget ice hockey too, can't really imagine a competitive team training at MOA lol. Hell, all winter sports are off limits, unless they make Snow World a sports complex. As for footie (soccer): have you actually heard of many filipinos football coach or play professionally abroad, i mean, filipinos are lazy enough to run a field, that's why they love the short length of a basketball court. Besides, they don't have the passion you need for football, it's a fad to them like Lady Gaga. Howabout dumb looking sports like Lacrosse? O wait, filipinos don't like to get bruised, i forgot. Phil was supposed to have a promising swimming team, don't know what happened there. Tennis: Too short and stumpy. And again, lazy to run after an even smaller ball than a basketball. Sepak takraw: Filipinos don't like to hurt their feet. But if the ball was the shape of a politician's face, then they might be good at it. I think the best sports for filipinos is the boring ones like shooting and archery (since they've had so much training from all those Fernando Po Jr Films), Dancing (thanks to Korean pop songs, sexbomb girls and the like), Fishing (for ulam), and Lunging. (that's a made-up sport of doing lunges)