00:00 Who else can make 46 3-pointers in a game-type exhibition?
00:05 So, yeah.
00:07 This was given to me by someone who's really happy.
00:10 I'm Ariel Morales, a PBA fan.
00:18 I've collected PBA jerseys since 2010.
00:22 And so far, I have 600-plus jerseys.
00:25 Most of my collections are replica jerseys
00:28 from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
00:32 I used to put my jerseys in cabinets,
00:36 but cabinets are getting more and more popular,
00:39 so I decided to put them in boxes.
00:42 Now, I have three big boxes of jerseys.
00:45 The important thing is that they don't get damaged
00:49 and the room is well-ventilated.
00:51 They won't get damaged.
00:52 We have a small group of fans of retro PBA jerseys.
00:57 We make jerseys for the fans.
01:01 And luckily, since I'm the one who designs them,
01:04 I get freebies from the fans as a gift
01:08 because I do research on the details.
01:10 Imagine, out of all the PBA jerseys I design,
01:13 I have one.
01:15 It really grew.
01:17 This is the first jersey I made.
01:20 So, it's a Sam Boy Lim jersey.
01:22 So, this is their Grandslam jersey, from 1989.
01:26 So, this is it.
01:27 It's a nice design.
01:29 Luckily, I got Sam Boy to sign this during a PBA game.
01:33 He was happy when he saw that I had his retro jerseys.
01:38 I think I signed around 30 jerseys.
01:42 Same goes with Big Jay.
01:44 When Big Jay attends games,
01:47 I make it a point that I bring his jerseys to perform.
01:52 The most jerseys I have are from Hinebra
01:56 because most of the fans in the community are Hinebra fans.
02:02 So, we make a lot of Hinebra jerseys.
02:04 We recreated all the jerseys starting from 1984.
02:09 So, in 1984, the name Hinebra was still Gilbis.
02:13 So, from 1984 until now, I completed all of them.
02:20 Aside from the retro jerseys,
02:24 my collection also evolved.
02:26 So, I also became a game-use jersey.
02:29 I'll just share the top 5 jerseys.
02:32 This is one of my top 5.
02:34 This is a game-use jersey from King Mar
02:37 during the SEA Games 2019, if I'm not mistaken.
02:41 This is a game-use jersey from Philip Cesar from 1977.
02:47 This is a 1974 jersey from Freddy Hubalde.
02:52 This is a game-worn jersey from Alvin Patrimonio.
02:55 This is a game-worn jersey from Kai Soto
02:58 during his junior championship.
03:01 My most memorable jersey is Gary David's jersey from 2013
03:06 when we won against Korea.
03:09 So, I was able to get his jersey.
03:12 I usually seek out the players to get their jerseys signed.
03:16 I've already signed a lot of jerseys for them.
03:18 They already know me.
03:20 This is one of the jerseys I wore in the 1970s.
03:25 As you can see, it's too small.
03:28 It doesn't fit me anymore.
03:30 It's too tight when I wear it.
03:32 My favorite is also Jason Castro's jersey.
03:35 This is his jersey from college, PCU Days.
03:39 I also got him a signed jersey.
03:41 This is a jacket from Benji Paras in 1989.
03:46 As you can see, it has a number on it.
03:51 This is from Freddy Hubalde.
03:54 My primary collection is autographs.
03:57 Even for the NBA, my collection is full of autographs.
04:00 If I'm lucky, I get photo-ops.
04:02 In the NBA, I collected the 50 greatest autographs
04:07 from the players.
04:09 Also, in the PBA, that's my long journey.
04:13 In 2010, I made a custom poster with their pictures.
04:19 I was able to meet all of them and get them signed.
04:25 Fortunately, I got Danny Florencio and Lim In Beng signed
04:29 before they won.
04:32 One time, I got assigned to the US for a month.
04:34 Since I was in the US, and I know that Bernie Fabiosa
04:39 and Abed Gidabin were in the US, I contacted them
04:42 through other players.
04:44 The other players gave me their contact information.
04:48 I went to their house and got their jerseys and PBA 25 greatest poster signed.
04:55 Luckily, they entertained me.
04:57 Aside from autographs and photo-ops, they also shared
05:02 their stories regarding their playing days.
05:06 It was well worth the trip.
05:08 All of my friends were very friendly.
05:10 I would say Danny Florencio and Mon Fernandez.
05:15 Alan Kaedic and Sam Boy.
05:17 They were the ones I met who were accommodating.
05:21 They were my athletes.
05:23 I didn't meet any snobs.
05:25 I had a great experience when I met them.
05:28 They were all very accommodating.
05:30 As for my friends and family,
05:33 some of them are not collectors.
05:36 They don't understand why I do this.
05:39 It's just a hobby.
05:41 It's just a hobby.
05:42 It's a stress reliever in work.
05:44 Something to do when you're stressed.
05:47 I never consider it as an investment.
05:50 It's more of a hobby.
05:52 It's my way to appreciate more the basketball hobby.
05:58 It's my journey of collecting,
06:02 researching the designs of the past,
06:06 meeting the players,
06:09 and getting their autographs.
06:11 That's what I appreciate the most
06:13 when collecting basketball jerseys.
06:16 It's a relief that I'm the one who's influenced.
06:22 I'm the one they say they're listening to
06:25 because they say it's hard to reach my level.
06:29 I told them to just enjoy the hobby.
06:32 We don't compete with each other.
06:35 We just enjoy the hobby.
06:38 I hope there are corporate entities
06:43 or corporations willing to put up
06:46 basketball jerseys or Philippine basketball.
06:49 I'm willing to sell the game used
06:52 and the signed jerseys
06:54 so that our current and future generations
06:59 can appreciate the work of our pioneers.
07:04 I'm not yet retired.
07:08 I still have a lot to collect.
07:11 I don't know when I'll retire.
07:14 But I've met all the PBA hosts,
07:18 even the 40 greatest players.
07:20 I've signed with them
07:22 and took pictures with them.
07:24 I don't have any regrets.
07:26 Maybe when I have 50 greatest,
07:29 I'll be able to do that.
07:30 But I doubt I'll be able to do more.
07:32 [music]
07:35 If you have an inspiring story like this,
07:37 email us at stories.onlygood@gmail.com
07:41 And don't forget to subscribe to OG Channel.
07:44 Thank you for watching.
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