The Unsaid

Hurting on the Hardcourt

The emotions the following images show happen time and again, in the Arena of Sport.  The Euphoria of Victory and the Bitter Sting of Defeat are two horns on the the same animal we call Sports.  Anger at One's Self / Disappointment / Frustration / Regret / Doubt / Profound Pain / Bitterness / Heartache  - call it what you like - the inescapable fact is - Those emotions will, and always be, part and parcel of the sports experience.

Wether it be in the littlest of leagues or the loftiest levels of any sports discipline - Being up close and personal to such events - I can't help but empathize all the time.  Mind you, [except for Toni Basa & Ryan Monteclaro] I've had the pleasure of the acquaintances of ALL the athletes in this post.

No, no, no - I don't have that "morbid fascination" of witnessing people "hurting", up close and personal.  But if only to photojournalize it {hopefully in a tasteful /discreet / tactful   manner  [one can easily overdo it, wether one likes it or not] } and to be able to remind me of my humanity and frailties - I will always try capture it objectively and eventually try to present it subjectively - so that others can share the "experience" and "take" or "learn something" from it.

 At one time, a fellow photographer even quipped at me "Akala ko sisipain ka ni [name of losing athlete]  habang kinikunan mo siya". It can be a sensitive situation at times so I suppose it's a judgement call every single time I try to capture such emotion - how far I might go to get a strong image. But gotta take the risk - - -

Now, I really don't know how much sense I'm making here but I'll just have to hope I'm making enough.

So, allow me to share some random post match moments [that have actually "hit home" for me - at times].  Have LOTS more, somewhere in my external hard drives - but for now, hope these images will suffice.

Jeric Teng

 - after losing to FEU by 1 point in a won game - lost in the last 10 seconds.

 [MOA Arena]

Simon Atkins 

- right after he had played his LAST game for DLSU

[Simon played his 5 full years as a Green Archer]

 [Araneta]

 Ray Parks 

- after missing two free throws in the last minute which cost NU a game

[Phil Sports Arena]

The next 4 images show Dzi Gervacio tearfully saying her piece to her

 team mates as Alyssa Valdez tries to comfort Jem Ferrer 

- right after the Lady Eagles got beaten by the Lady Archers for the

 UAAP Volleyball Championship last Feb.29

[Arena, San Juan]

 Rodney Brondial

- after losing to UST in a match that Adamson controlled all afternoon,

 only to choke in the last few minutes.

 [Araneta]

 Toni Basas [middle]

- after being eliminated by UST in a Final Four match

 [Arena, San Juan]

Rikki Flores 

- after losing their [the UP Maroons] last Season 73 Softball match,

 which they should have handily won [if not for their carelessness]

[UST Campus]

Jeric Fortuna

- right after that 1 point loss to FEU, where, during the end game he [Jeric] missed an unmolested lay up AND had the ball stolen from him

 in the last minute by Romeo [who eventually scooted for a solo twinner].

[same match from where the Jeric Teng image comes from]

MOA Arena

Ryan Monteclaro

after a most recent [Aug.19] heartbreaker of a loss to UST

[same match from where the Rodney Brondial photo comes from]

[Araneta]

Robbie Recto 

- after a bad fall at first base -

 and having to go through moments of exrtremely excrutiating pain

[sometimes though, it's not as bad as it looks at first]

[UP Campus]

Kiefer Ravena

- after being inadverdently hit on the face by his defender

 [sent the Blue Eagle sprawling to the floor]

No biggy, Right ??

All part of the game - Kief.

[Arena, San Juan]

Of course, physical pain, is still pain - and physical injuries 

can leave physical scars occasionally, Right ?

- - - but it's the pain that doesn't have "physical scars"

 but "emotional scars" that affects us the most.

brosi gonzales