Marjorie Tan 
For most, basketball is just another ball sport played in a 29mx15m rectangular court, with a ring elevated 10 feet above the ground and a set of complex rules that dictate the flow of the game. To some, it is a neighborhood pastime, with the sound of dribbling echoing through the streets and the rhythmic squeak of sneakers on the pavement becoming a daily familiar melody. But sometimes, from these recurring beginnings, extraordinary stories unfold. The Tolipas brothers, natives from a peaceful corner of Paranas, Samar, turned their hometown court into a springboard for global glory.
Early morning drills and dreams
The backcourt of the SSU Deers, Albert Joshua and Rogelio “Tuks” Tolipas Jr., fell in love with the game of basketball at a young age, starting their basketball journey at elementary school, even sacrificing their playtime and sleep to wake up early in order to train and learn from ballplayers that were more experienced than them at the time.
“Since elementary po ako nagtikang pag basketball kay nahawa po ako han akon surroundings kay puros po nag uuyag basketball. Grabe po amon gin sacrifice ha training ha pagmamata hit aga-aga para makagjogging, shooting, drills, para mahibaro ak ngan para mag improve pa akon uyag,” said AJ Tolipas when asked about the sacrifices he gave to improve his game.
Before they donned the SSU Jersey and became hometown basketball idols in their hometown, the brothers poured blood, sweat, and tears into mastering the game they love, a testament to their dedication to improving their game as a duo and as individual players.
Balancing dreams and priorities
The backcourt of the SSU Deers, Albert Joshua and Rogelio “Tuks” Tolipas Jr., fell in love with the game of basketball at a young age, starting their basketball journey at elementary school, even sacrificing their playtime and sleep to wake up early in order to train and learn from ballplayers that were more experienced than them at the time.
“Since elementary po ako nagtikang pag basketball kay nahawa po ako han akon surroundings kay puros po nag uuyag basketball. Grabe po amon gin sacrifice ha training ha pagmamata hit aga-aga para makagjogging, shooting, drills, para mahibaro ak ngan para mag improve pa akon uyag,” said AJ Tolipas when asked about the sacrifices he gave to improve his game.
Before they donned the SSU Jersey and became hometown basketball idols in their hometown, the brothers poured blood, sweat, and tears into mastering the game they love, a testament to their dedication to improving their game as a duo and as individual players.
On-court brotherhood
Being brothers definitely helped the duo’s chemistry on the court, as shown by their spacing on the hardwood and the no-look dimes dished to one another, but basketball in turn also strengthened the bond between the two, as they treated the game as a way of cementing their connection and their means of inspiring others to chase their basketball dreams as well.
“Ginhimo po namon nga bonding an pag uyag basketball ngan dida po kami nagiging happy kay nakahahatag kami inspirasyon ha iba parte han amon pag-uuyag,” said the Tolipas brothers when asked by The Tradesman about how their being siblings influenced their game.
From doubt to glory
The biggest hurdle yet for the splash bros’ path to success was the ICBT 2023 held in Zhengzhou China, where they faced an unknown style of play in uncharted territory against foreign players.
The SSU Deers did not foresee a title victory when they first arrived at SIAS University of China, especially as doubt started to creep in when they first saw their towering opponents who seemed to dwarf them on the basketball court.
“Ginkulba po kami kay tungod han size, height, tapos kumpleto— 15 hira, kami kay 9 la, tapos kadagko pa nira tapos an ira coach kay ex-PBA [player], pero waray po kami hito pagpadara nga kahadlok, gin-atuhan lugod namon an amon hadlok,” said AJ when asked about the challenges they faced especially their match with Panpacific University of Pangasinan.
Moreover, facing their doubts and letting confidence in their own game speak for them, the Tolipas brothers utilized their speed and endurance to outduel the bigger and taller Chinese opposition.
The run-and-gun strategy that tired out the slower big men of the opposition, devised by the Head Coach of the SSU Deers Dr. Randy Pacadaljen, eventually led the way for the SSU Deers to end their stint with a clean 5-0 record, and the championship trophy to parade back home.
From intertown tournaments to the shining international stage of basketball, the Tolipas brothers have now certainly come a long way, as they were hailed as the Champions of the recent International Collegiate Basketball Tournament 2023 held in Zhengzhou, China — the awaited fruition of all their hard work.
Champions’ life lessons
Now international champions and local basketball idols, the Tolipas duo imparts the life lessons they learned along their path to success, to the aspiring basketball players who are still yet to see the realization of their dreams.
“Kun karuyag mo talaga maabot an usa nimo nga pangarap, kailangan mo gud pagkuri-an. As a team, nashare kami han amon nahibaruan ha parte han uyag, ngan nahatag kami advice ha amon team para maging maupay pa hira nga player,” AJ Tolipas uttered.
The splash duo also shared a word of advice to aspiring basketball players, and athletes in general who aim to reach the highest level of the sport they love.
When asked about his advice to aspiring athletes and basketball players, the SSU Deers’ Team Captain Rogelio Tolipas Jr. had this to say, “Dream high, work hard. Iwas ha mga bisyo nga maglalain ha imo lawas ngan igbalance gihapon an pag aram ngan pag basketball kay diri permanente nga makusog imo kalawasan. Dapat kailangan mo liwat mag-aram hin maupay para hit maupay nga future, and always [stay] humble lang.”
In the end, their journey imparts a simple yet ponderous truth: if you choose to dream, dream bigger. The Tolipas brothers’ story teaches us that when we dare to envision greatness, when we hold fast to our aspirations with unyielding determination, we unlock the potential to achieve the extraordinary.
