FABA resurrected
Dec 10, 07:28 PM

The Filipino-American Basketball Association is back!

Founded in the mid 90’s, the organization has been inactive since 2002.

FABA pronounced “Fah-buh”, once the premier Filipino American Basketball league in the greater San Francisco bay area, is now in the process of making its long awaited re-introduction to a new generation of Fil-Am basketball players, business owners, fans and stakeholders.

The new FABA will be comprised of up and coming Fil-am basketball hopefuls and also veteran cagers, namely Jon Ordonio, former Pop Cola PBA player, Sunny Margate, “Mr. Intangible” of the MBA/PBL, and Jeremy De la Cruz, Bay Area Mr. MVP.

The league will be headed by two FABA bi-products and former standouts, Eddy Ramos and Ace Aspiras.

Ramos, a San José resident was a 2-time FABA all-star and a member of the 1999 Open Division championship team (Bulldogs). Once scouted by Biboy Ravanes, then coach of the Socsargen Marlins, a team that was a part of the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), Ramos was known for his deadly outside shooting ability.

Also a standout as a high school player at Milpitas High School, Ramos earned all-league honors and was a team captain his senior year. He later returned to his alma mater in 2003-2004 as an assistant varsity coach, and helped lead the Trojans to a successful season.

Aspiras, who holds a Business Management degree from San José State University and is a Milpitas resident, was also a part of Ramos’ championship team in 1999 at the tender age of 16. He began as a participant of FABA’s Junior League Division and garnered MVP honors in his first and only season.

A Milpitas Trojan standout, Aspiras was recognized as an all-league player while in high school, and has been a staple in the Bay Area Fil-Am Basketball scene. Recently, the 25-year-old had the opportunity to try out for PBL teams (San Mig Coffee and Pharex).

Unfortunately during his visit to the Philippines, Aspiras sustained an injury that kept him from reaching his ultimate goal of being a PBA player. However, his time in the Philippines was not wasted as he met former Pure Foods Coach, Eric Altamirano, who adopted Aspiras into his basketball family.

The former PBA champion coach, Altamirano, along with Alex Compton, former MBA MVP, mentored Aspiras during his stay. Aspiras, who later served as a regional coach for the Nokia National Basketball Training Center-a grassroots basketball training program in his hometown of Davao City, is now an assistant boys’ varsity coach for Milpitas High School.

“I certainly hope that one day, with the help of the community, we can create a Junior FABA-like league, so that we could give the youth an option to learn and play the game of basketball,” Aspiras said.

Both Aspiras and Ramos shared their thoughts of FABA, in regards to its past and future impact.

“It’s an honor to be part of something that means so much to me and so many people,” said Aspiras. “As I look back, as a teenager and seeing the likes of Joel Sales, Lou Juico, and Eugene Tejada out there on the court every Sunday, I couldn’t help but to want to be as good as them. I used to tell myself, ‘One day I’ll be in the PBA!’ Growing up, FABA gave me the option to stay out of trouble, or less trouble than I was prone to getting into, during my late teens and into my college years.”

“We definitely have a challenging road ahead, but I believe with the support of Fil-Am and local communities, we can establish an organization that provides a venue where talents can be displayed and developed,” Ramos added. “This event will be a launching pad and the first step towards restoring the heart of Filipino American basketball.”

                                                                    http://filamstar.net/index.php?id=150

 Ace Adolfo Aspiras is the son of Ms. Lynda Adolfo. He is the grandson of the late Inocentes Adolfo, the first Municipal Treasurer and one of the prime movers of Padada. The family once resided in Bonifacio Street, where their ancestral home still stood.