Concealed by ambition, each person possesses a certain need hiding
underneath: the need to leave a mark and leave a legacy, a time to become
the person who taught and not being the one who’ll learn. Raji Detera knew
that she wasn’t the one who was going to shoot the ball in the hoop but rather
the one who was coaching on how to shoot it, the ball in another player’s hands instead of hers.
No matter what, the ball kept being passed, It was her day now and another’s
the next. Raji, a basketball player who wasn’t chosen to play this season, has
wholeheartedly accepted the fact with a slight sting of hurt.
“Honestly clueless din ako sa mga nangyari, and aaminin ko until now masakit pa rin, ‘di ko pa rin tanggap yung mga nangyari knowing na last playing year ko na. Sabi ng coach namin nung pilian na magbabase siya sa pinakita niyo ngayong last game and from that point may clue ako na hindi ako makakasali kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na kulang ung pinakita ko,” she started.
Yet she couldn’t afford to wallow in sadness and sulk instead Raji used her loss as gain for others, coaching eager children to play. She didn’t hesitate in passing the ball this time to children who’s not so fortunate in life.
Raji detera, cays women basketball player
“Yung hindi ko pag kasama sa provincial meet ginawang kong motivation yun, iniisip ko na kung hindi ako para sa paglalaro baka mas okay kung ako naman ang mag tuturo kaya tuwing Sabado dito samin kahit simple lang yung mga gamit ko,”
Sharing of what she knew and learned from her time in playing, the children
caught all the knowledge she ever threw and taught them how to shoot victory.
“Napaka sarap sa kalooban makita yung mga ngiti nila , sila nag inspire sakin
aside from my family.” Raji beamed in pride.
From coaching three children, added by seven, followed by a dozen until she
had a handful of eager children that idolized her due to her skill, Raji continued to pass chances fowards them which they gratefully caught.
“Yung mga bata kasi dito samin pag nag pupunta ko sa court , lagi silang nag
tatanong na bat ang galing ko bat daw ganto ganyan , lagi kong sinasagot na
kaya nila kong higitan ensayo lang, yung mga batang yun mga wala pang
sapatos yun pero nakikitaan ko sila ng potensyal,” she emphasized.
Her days of being the trainee long gone, they were filled with being the trainer instead. And she didn’t want to have it in any other way.
“Wag titigil , ensayo lang ng ensayo, tapos ‘wag pababayaan ang pag-aaral
kasi kahit anong galing mo sa sports, kung ang pag aaral mo ay
napapabayaan , wala lang din yung galing mo, sa mga batang babae
naman wag niyong isipin na babae tayo di natin kaya yung mga lalake
walang imposible, always pray before play,” Raji said.
Some gripped relentlessly on what little they have as they don’t want to let go
just yet but a little of what they have is everything to a soul that seeks to begin.
And for Raji, she continues to teach, passing the ball to others whether it ends
up in the hoop or not, she’s proof that even if they didn’t get to shoot their shot, they should give the chance for others to do so and be happy that the ball’s in others’ hands instead of theirs.
THE ECHOES 