A Letter to Paul

I am a fan. But I guess you already know that. Since when exactly, I don't really know. I just found myself watching your every move. Every game I mean, I haven't resorted to stalking you, don't worry.

I have always been a UAAP fan. One can't help it when you have classes being suspended before and after a championship game. You learn to love it especially because it comes before the final exams. I went to UST before UE and will forever be a Thomasian by heart. Until you and James came along. To be perfectly honest, I didn't really give a damn about the Red Warriors back when I was still in school. I only got to watch UE games when UST was playing them. I was a Tiger in disguised in a Warrior outfit. I was mean and did my school injustice. I looked forward to an Ateneo-La Salle game the same way their alumni would. I did watch their games live. Lualhati probably rued the day she welcomed me into her midst.

But you and James came along. It was very unfortunate that my awakening came when I was done with school. A UAAP-freak as I said, I would still watch the games whenever I had the time. And for once, I made an effort to catch UE play. The year was 2002.

You were in the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage over Ateneo. I was saddened by the first game loss but it didn't prepare me for the knockout match. I was too shocked to even move after the final buzzer sounded. But like a true-blue (red) fan, I didn't see the point of blaming you for the miscue. I trained my guns instead to Gec Chia. I actually refused to acknowledge Gec as part of the Ateneo team that eventually won the title that season. For me, he was just so darn lucky he nailed that shot and comforted myself with the thought that maybe they really were destined to be the champs that year.

You eventually redeemed yourself not long after the UAAP season. Your team won the Bantay Bata benefit games, Champion's League and the Guam Invitationals. You even won for yourself MVP citations for the Champion's League and Guam Invitationals. It was not a bad school year after all.

On your last UAAP season, things really were looking up for you and the team at the end of eliminations. I imagined a fairy tale-ending to your glorious UAAP career. You lost, I cried a river. I can still remember the look on your face in the last minute of that game. I wanted to run to you and give you a hug. I didn't obviously.

Again I comforted myself with the thought that FEU was meeting its date with destiny. James ran away with the MVP honors and you were in the Mythical Five as the best point guard of the league. It was enough to lift my spirits.

Then your team-up was reenacted in the PBL when James joined you in Welcoat. I couldn't ask for more. You two played for two teams that conference, side by side. You were both in the RP team that would later see action in the SEA Games.

The 2003 SEA Games, another disappointing memory. You got dropped from the team for not being an offensive threat they said. My heart bled for you. I actually wanted to hunt down Coaches Aric, Dong and Boysie.

It was too much to close a year that started with a bang. You missed the UAAP finals again, lost the Bantay Bata title and failed to help the team in defending the Champion's League crown as a big send-off to the departing Coach Boysie. It wasn't the most fitting closing to your college ball career.

The Rookie Draft came. I kept praying for Purefoods to pick you along with James who reportedly already met with Purefoods team officials even before the draft. It seemed so impossible and unthinkable but I have been a Purefoods fan ever since and I want you in the team so my life would be easier. My informant at the Glorietta sent me a message that you went to Sta Lucia and Purefoods got James. Sad and hungry for I refused to eat dinner, I still watched the proceedings on television. Good thing I did for I have been fed the wrong information. I didn't let my informant-friend sleep soundly that night.

I got my wish. You got drafted by my favorite team with James in tow. I couldn't be any happier.

Welcoat lost the championship to Fash in a very emotional and controversial series. Everyday is not Christmas, I realized. But felt really overwhelmed when the Purefoods team came down for a visit in Game 2. It was a sight to behold when they were shown on television wildly cheering you and James on after a fastbreak.

I waited long and hard for the opening of the Fiesta Conference. I especially wanted to see that one because it would be your first official PBA appearance. I almost killed myself after I got stuck in traffic from a short trip to the mall. I missed you and the team coming out. I only caught the last team. I missed your first day in the PBA. I felt bad.

Your first game wasn't televised live. I was restless the whole night trying to convince myself the team won and you didn't do a Rich Alvarez. The team won I found out the day after and you survived your initiation. With flying colors. You were best player of the game and even outplayed Johnny A. How cool is that? I had a blast watching it two days later.

You finished the first round of eliminations on top of the rookie race but wasn't able to hold on because of the team's slump.

You won your birthday game and I was really glad for you. I wasn't able to catch that one live but I managed the next game. I will forever remember that day for it was the day I actually let you know I exist. I just wanted you to know in my most simplest way you bring happiness to my otherwise boring life by simply watching you play. I'd like to thank you again for what you did and my apologies again for saying and doing the wrong things for I was so stunned to even think straight.

Thanks again for greeting me on my birthday. I didn't give you much of a choice, did I? Thanks really, from the bottom of my heart. But the team lost its playoff game that same day so I canceled my birthday dinner for I was in no mood to celebrate.

Then the All-Stars came. Your first. In your rookie year. And you're in as starter. That was really great. Sorry you didn't do well in the side event but it seemed very obvious that you totally enjoyed your first All-Star experience.

And now we're in your second conference as a professional basketball player. You really are doing a good job. Your name got involved in trade rumors but remained rumors up to this day. Your free throw shooting is improving and though there's an obvious change in your game with regards to quickness, I suspect it has something to do with the PBA play but I'm not complaining. At times yes, but not every game.

You have come a long way since your La Salle days. A lot of disappointments along the way but you're where you are right now. No one can really explain the phenomenon that is Paul Artadi. You're not very tall, not known for your shooting skills (well yes, but in a negative manner) and yet you're in the PBA where playmaking is a chore more than a skill. Where point guards are shooting three-pointers as natural as the sun coming out in the morning. Where free throw shooting is a must especially for point guards who get fouled a lot. One can get away with it when you're a center, I don't know why. But you are in the PBA, making waves.

You don't know how happy I am when I learned you were back in school last semester. I was glad. No, ecstatic. It was good to know you still got your priorities right.

Now that you're officially a graduate, I truly am proud of you. You never let me down. I knew you would, that's why I like you. Your family must be really proud of you. Not that they aren't before given the state of your athletic career but a diploma gives a different high to parents, you know.

I want to congratulate you again for this latest achievement. I really am so happy and so proud of you. I'd like to thank you for awakening some sense of pride in me. Lame as it is, you and James were one of the few reasons I felt glad I went to UE for college. For that I'm grateful.

More power to you and may you continue to be an inspiration to others. James included. May God bless you more.