Borgie Hermida: One Last Roar
Written by Anton Roxas from inboundpass.com
THE pursuit to discover the journey of our country’s most hardworking athletes is a joyous experience to any journalist that is passionate about sports. To share their great stories with the rest of world means giving back to the game that he or she loves so dearly.
For his next tale, this writer made his way inside the storied campus of San Beda College located along Mendiola Street in San Miguel, Manila. The currently undefeated (10-0 in NCAA Season 86) Red Lions’ college basketball team was currently winding up a closed door practice inside the St. Placid Gym – Two basketball covered courts with bleachers separated in between by a huge trophy room.
As the writer examined the trophies, he noticed that one of them had in it the list of names of the members of a 2002 varsity team. As he read through the list, he was surprised to see a familiar name – one that will forever be associated with the San Beda Community: Borgie Hermida.
“16 years na ako dito [Sa San Beda]. Dito na ako lumaki at natuto ng lahat. Magsulat, Magbasa. Pag umalis na ako dito, madaming magbabago,” said Borgie Hermida, now a 22 year old graduating student finishing up a degree in Marketing.
One of the few current college players in the country with an extensive background in the game coupled with a long list of career achievements that includes numerous championships and MVPs, Hermida has come a long, long way to get to the level he is at today. Well, that is in terms of the amount of work he has put up to improve his game. He actually began his storied basketball journey in a place nearby his beloved school.
“Pag sinabi mong larong Bustillos, pisikal talaga, gulangan. Mga kalaro ko mga tricycle driver,” said Hermida. Hermida began playing basketball at the age of 4, where his father, Carlos Hermida, now a retired engineer, put up a basketball ring at their garage in their humble home in Bustillos, Manila.
“Linalaban kami ng kuya ko sa shooting ni Papa. Piso-piso lang. Mababa lang yung goal,” recalled Hermida.
Borgie is the youngest of six children. He has four sisters: Jing (38), Jennete (37), Jingle (34), and Jocelyn (34); and one brother: Jomel (37). Of the six siblings, Jing, Jennete and Jingle are now living in the United States.
His real name is John Carlos Hermida Jr., after his father. According to Borgie, he got his nickname from the son of Imee Marcos (Daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos), model Borgie Manotoc.
“Pag tinatanong ako ng mga tao, hindi sila naniniwala. Basta, sabi ng magulang ko na ipapangalan daw nila ako sa apo ni Marcos,” laughed Hermida. “Suwerte ako sa parents ko. Very supportive sila sa akin,” he added.
Borgie’s mother, Glecy, who was watching the practice inside the gym as well, is a loving housewife who has never ceased to stop caring for her son and family.
“Inspiration ko yung parents ko. Sila yung nag-start sa akin sa basketball. Out of 500 games, siguro, 10 lang ang hindi nila napanood,” said Hermida proudly.
His parents really made an effort to get Borgie into the sport early, as they enrolled him in the “Life’s A Ball” basketball camp of the legendary Ramon Fernandez when he was 6 years old.
When he turned 9, Borgie participated in the MILO BEST Training center where he won an award for “Best in Jump Shot.”
“Everyday, kalaro ko yung mga taga sa amin. Sa arawan, tanghaling tapat. 12-o-clock. Laro pa din. Kahit umuulan, laro pa din. Minsan pinapagalitan na nila [his parents] ako ,” recalled Hermida.
Coming from a poor neighborhood, Borgie learned to keep his feet on the ground and make friends with the less fortunate. “Marami akong kakilala na tiga sa amin na madami yung bisyo, nag-mamarijuana. Pero, maaasahan mo din sila minsan. Protective sila sa akin. Kaya, nakakasabay ako sa buhay ng mahihirap at buhay ng may kaya,” said Hermida.
With his experiences during his youth, Borgie used that foundation to become a part of the San Bada basketball program, one of the best and most respected basketball programs in the country.
In the fourth grade, Borgie among his peers was a tall 5’5” and was used as a center in the SBP tournament. “Malaki ako nun,” he said. However, he would only grow 5 inches taller from there and like every storybook legend, there became obstacles that the hero had to overcome before being triumphant.
During his first year in high school, Borgie got cut from the lineup because he was too small [5’10”] to play his first true natural position as shooting guard.
“1 year akong tumigil maglaro. Masyado daw akong maliit para sa shooting guard. Na-frustrate ako. Nag-billiards muna ako. Sikat kasi si Efren “Bata” Reyes nung time na yun eh,” he recalled.
But, come his second year in high school, Borgie found a way to return to the varsity team as he was converted into a point guard by legendary San Beda Coach, Ato Badolato.
Under the tutelage of the greatest high school basketball coach in Philippine history (16 NCAA Juniors Titles and countless other titles in various other tournamnets), Borgie had an extraordinary year by winning six Most Valuable Player awards in various tournaments such as the PRADA Midgets, Passarelle, PSBL, MMBL and Adidas Streetball.
“Utang ko din buhay ko kay Ato [Badolato]. Siya yung nagbigay sa akin ng kumpiyansa,” said Hermida.
The following year, Borgie helped the San Beda Red Cubs capture the NCAA Season 80 Juniors Championship while backing up Chico Tirona in a team that also included future pro, Ogie Menor.
“Ang pinaka-importanteng natutunan ko kay Coach Ato, magkaroon ng court sense sa loob. Ang una niyang tinuro sa akin, defense. Hanapin ko yung butas na hindi magagawa ng teammates ko. Natuto ako maging role player nung third year ko. Nung fourth year ko, pagka-graduate ng iba, nagkaroon na ako ng offense,” recalled Hermida.
Upon graduating from high school, Borgie moved on to college and became a part of the San Beda Red Lion team that ended a 28-year title drought by winning the NCAA Season 82 Championship.
The following season, under new head coach and San Beda alumnus, Frankie Lim, he earned the starting point guard position and led the team to two more championships to complete San Beda’s second three-peat (2006-2008, NCAA Season 82-84) in the school’s history. (The first three-peat – 1934-1936, NCAA Season 11-13)
“16 years. Kaparehas nga ng jersey ko eh. 16 talaga number ko dati pa. Kahit nung nasa PBL ako, meron akong number 61 na uniform kasi ayaw ko mawala yung 1 at yung 6. Si Alvin Patrimonio kasi yung Idol ko dati pa. Since elementary,” explained Hermida.
Having spent majority of his life in San Beda, Borgie has yet to point out a single moment that he can call his greatest. But, in his final playing year for his beloved school, he has one last wish before he hangs up his number 16 San Beda jersey.
“Sinabi ko nga sa mga teammates ko, ‘please, give it to me,’” he said.
Winning a championship is never too old for a true winner like Borgie Hermida.
Should he successfully lead the Red Lions to their 15th NCAA title at the end of this season, the young boy from Bustillos, Manila would have his storybook ending and will finally know what his greatest moment in basketball is.
That would be it.
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