"Bilog ang Bola" (Documentary by Howie Severino)

Episode on July 26, 2010 Monday after Saksi! BILOG ANG BOLA Documentary by Howie Severino The general public knows James Yap because of Kris Aquino and their colorful marriage, now falling apart in front of everyone. What many may have forgotten is that James is also one of the most talented and charismatic basketball players of his generation, a phenom ever since his high school days. With the influx of Filipino-American players, James is now a rare breed - the local college player who has become a superstar in the Philippine Basketball Association. Howie Severino and his documentation team get to know James' basketball prowess during his team Derby Ace’s dramatic playoff series against Rain ‘n Shine. Hurting from his recent separation from Kris, and from a black eye suffered in a hard-fought game, Yap has to lead his injury-plagued team against a strong and healthy opponent. Will the phenom deliver? While Howie's team follows Yap's playoff performance to its exciting finish, they are also shadowing two collegiate phenoms who will soon face off against each other, stars for opposing UAAP teams National University and Far Eastern University. NU's Joseph ‘Cocoy’ Hermosisima and FEU's Aldrech Ramos are like many Filipino talented young players, rooted in poverty, and dreaming of PBA riches and becoming the next phenom. But as the spots on professional teams increasingly go to Fil-Ams, they must prove themselves first in college hoops and lead their teams to victory. But only one of them can win. Young dreamers and troubled pro - two faces of Philippine basketball that represent the hope of rising stars all over the nation. I-Witness airs this Monday after Saksi!

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Kadalasan siyang naaalala ng mga Pilipino bilang asawa ng kontrobersyal na aktres na si Kris Aquino o kaya naman ay ang ang ama ni Baby James. Makatawag pansin ang mga billboard niya sa Edsa at mga patalastas sa dyaryo at magazine. Pero tila nakakalimutan ng mga Pilipino na may iba pang mundong ginagalawan si James Carlos Yap Sr. o mas kilala bilang James Yap. At iyan ay ang propesyon niya bilang isang magaling at namumukod-tanging basketbolista sa kaniyang henerasyon. Pinuputakte man ng problema sa buhay mag-asawa, nanatiling matagumpay ni James Yap sa kanyang napiling propesyon. At kahit ngayong napilayan ang kanyang team ng dalawang mahusay na manlalaro sa papainit lalong Fiesta Conference ng PBA, lalong tumitindi ang kanyang tungkulin na depensahan ang kanyang koponan para mapabilang sa Finals. Tulad ng ibang mga basketbolista sa bansa, naging isang ordinaryong manlalaro lang din si James Yap kung hindi napansin ng UAAP ang kabilib-bilib at kamangha-mangha niyang galing sa basketball. Naging inspirasyon ang probinsiyanong tubong Negros Occidental para sa napakaraming kabataang gusto ring makilala ang kanilang pambihirang galing sa basketbol. Marami sa kanila ay mga galing sa mahihirap na pamilya sa probinsiya na nangangarap ding mabigyan ng tyansang umangat sa buhay. Kilalang kulelat ang NU o National University sa basketbol ng UAAP. Noong 1954 pa ang una at kahulihulihan nilang titulo bilang kampeon ng basketbol sa UAAP kaya naman sila ang tinaguriang crying babies sa liga. Pero malaki ang kumpiyansa nila kay Joseph ‘Cocoy’ Hermosisima, ang star Player ng NU Bulldogs na galing Davao City. Sa kabilang banda naman, matindi rin ang pressure sa FEU dahil kailangan nilang protektahan ang kanilang pinakaiingatang reputasyon bilang may hawak ng 19 championship titles, ang pinakamaraming bilang ng panalo sa UAAP. Kaya naman lalong pinagbubutihan ng star player ng FEU Tamaraws na si Aldrech Ramos ang kanyang depensa. Sa pagtutunggali ng Bulldogs at Tamaraws sa UAAP, sino kaya sa kanila ang magwawagi? Huwag palalampasin ang maaksyon at kapanapanabik na dokumentaryong "Bilog ang Bola" ni Howie Severino ngayong Lunes ng gabi pagkatapos ng Saksi.