Fil-Am nurse dribbles ball even after stint in navy

"Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don't let anyone limit your dreams." Donovan Bailey

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY --  As a high school varsity player at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo City, Philippines in the late 80's, Richard Borres Canong easily caught the eye of the late Iloilo City Councilor Jose "Joeball" Piamonte, who would become his coach until Richard represented the Western Visayas in the national Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) basketball in Nueva Ecija.

Richard's love affair with basketball did not end in the PRISAA, an association of private schools, Christian schools, and home school athletic departments throughout the Philippines founded in 1953. 

Since joining the U.S. Navy in 1990, Richard became a dyed-in-the-wool cager, amassing one Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after another, a mind-boggling achievement for a cager who hasn't breached the six feet height.

As a point guard and shooting guard, Richard pulled the rug from under other taller American players and fellow Fil-Ams in intramural games that pitted the best teams in the communities of Chicago, Washington, Maryland, among other states in the East Coast.

INTER-STATE

Playing for the Washington D.C., Richard's team won the 2014 Inter-State basketball tournament held in Chicago, a tension-filled championship witnessed by his parents, Illinois-based Ilonggos Rufino and Aurea.

They won the 2013 North American Basketball Association in New Market, Canada.

Richard was a regular player in De Ausen, a real estate firm, in their community league in Maryland, where he lives in Silver Spring together with wife, Joy Adorador, and two children, Randal, 21, and Rachel, 14.

He played together with some retired PBA players like Abe King, Ric-Ric Marata, Manny Victorino in exhibition match in 2009 and the visiting former San Beda Red Lions stars Louie Brill, Art Ayson, and Letran's Glen Yap.

Age hasn't slowed down Richard, who continues to reap honors in various community leagues playing in the 35 above category.  

FORMULA

His formula of success: "Stay fit. Be passionate. Be a team player. Stay grounded."

Richard exhorts basketball lovers "to always stay in shape and be competitive" regardless of age.

Richard, who started to hone his basketball talent during his elementary days at Angelicum School Iloilo, an exclusive school in Jaro, Iloilo City, says he is motivated to continue playing not for money "and although we only win trophies, we earn the respect of our peers and we use the occasion also as an opportunity to meet with friends." 

In 2014, Richard, at 43, became one of the youngest to retire after more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy.

He had a rank of lieutenant commander.

Now a Perioperative nurse at U.S. Navy, Richard is still very much active in playing basketball every now and then, a passion and hobby he does not intend to give up probably until his senior years as long as he is enjoying it.