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The Final Score: Actor Gerald Anderson wants to play basketball -- for real


This is weird. I sit next to actor Gerald Anderson. We watch a PBA D-League game at the San Juan Gym. We talk hoops as NLEX battles RnW. Even weirder, we discuss his possible entry into the D-League. He might join NLEX. Legitimate ball, play for pay. I'm serious. Thing is, he is too. "Nag-pa-practice pa lang ako with NLEX," Anderson, a former varsity player in GenSan, shares. "Wala 'pang official. Passion ko lang talaga yung basketball. Pero, if my schedule allows me to join, syempre why not." I don't watch Sunday variety shows. My guess: most NLEX players don't either. They haven't seen Gerald sing. But, they've seen him play. NLEX veteran Ogie Menor says Gerald has a decent outside jumper. Menor, however, says Gerald needs to learn team strategy. Menor isn't citing a minor detail. He's underlining a major prerequisite. The actor must play the right way in order to belong. Andrei Felix, another TV personality and close friend, believes Anderson belongs. "We won't go into this situation if we feel he's going to be embarrassed," Felix stresses. "It's not because he's just Gerald Anderson the actor. I know he can play with these guys. Wala siyang takot bro. Kahit mahulog siya, mapilay siya, he'll really go all-out." I ask Anderson about his strengths. Yet he's uncomfortable talking about his game. He won't confirm if he made five 3-point shots in a scrimmage against UAAP players. He won't share how he once thought of trying out for Ateneo and maybe show Kiefer Ravena how a real "celebrity" rookie looks like. He won't confirm a rumor that, even as a 5'10" shooter, he can dunk. He prefers to stay mum about his credentials. After NLEX forward Woody Co scores, Gerald pumps his fist in the air. Then, he goes back to observing. He rubs his chin, the way thinkers do. He's probably thinking: How can I help this team? How can I survive in this league? How do I succeed in this new world? No Kim Chiu. No Sarah Geronimo. Just plenty of Kojak Melegritos and Edwin Asoros. Anderson can also expect little help from coaches like Cebuana Lhuillier's Luigi Trillo. Trillo will treat Anderson like any other unknown, aspiring PBA D-League player. Trillo, who hardly watches local television, doesn't know Anderson any other way. "I don't know who he is," Trillo confesses. "Seriously, forgive me, I really don't know him." Anderson seems ready for the unknown. He might play for NLEX, Maynilad or even FCA. Certainly, it will feel weird for future teammates and opponents. Absurdity, however, shouldn't stop him from going for broke. The way I see it, he's not out to make D-League ratings soar. He just wants to play, score, prove his worth, like every other basketball player not named Gerald Anderson. "Gusto ko lang i-fulfill passion ko, yung dreams ko at gusto ko rin maging inspirasyon sa ibang tao na mahilig din sa sports." -- GMA News

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