What Does NU and the Boston Red Sox Have in Common?

Photo courtesy of Boston.com

Photo courtesy of Rappler.com

I watched a documentary on ABS-CBN's cable sports channel Balls named Four Days in October. It was all about the Boston Red Sox and the end of the so-called "Curse of the Bambino". I was quite amazed how the Red Sox regained themselves after losing three games against the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, and eventually won the series that became a ticket to the World Series that took them four games to win the series and end the curse that have been plaguing the baseball team since the 1919-1920 season. While watching the documentary, I began to think of an almost similar story but not in baseball, but in basketball. Not in professional baseball, but in college basketball, Not in the US, but in the Philippines.


After 60 years since winning their first UAAP championship in 1954, National University has conquered Philippine college basketball once again earning the 2014 men's basketball championship title. This ended the university's long championship droughts in college basketball. And it is not only because of the Finals MVP Alfred Aboga from Cambodia or its team captain Glenn Khobuntin, but also because of its head coach Eric Altamirano which has a unfamiliar habit of ending long championship droughts throughout his entire coaching career that we should learn much more from him. Although I said that is not the same as what the Boston Red Sox did to win the 2004 World Series since 1918, it is clear that these two teams have one thing in common - passion and the spirit of "Never Give Up!!"

Baseball is one of the most-watched sports in America, while basketball is the most popular sport in the Philippines today. Both sports and countries have their own professional leagues. Major League Baseball may be the most-watched professional sports league in the US because of the World Series, but I could say that the UAAP is the country's most popular collegiate sports league because of the much-anticipated Finals that drew many audiences. These two are very different things having different facts and beliefs, but what the NU Bulldogs and the Boston Red Sox did after long championship droughts are considered as one of the most inspiring stories in the history of their respective sport. And that, my fellow sports fans, is a fact.