MALAYBALAY, LOUIS

2 – CLM
HKD04 – THURS (1:00PM-3:00PM)

Individual Task: Basketball Ball Handling (Reflection)

Basketball ball handling is a skill that you can never perfect overnight. It is a
skill that requires continuous practice in order for you to perform basketball moves
that require good ball handling. Although ball handling is only a secondary skill
necessary to play, it is still a fundamental skill if you want a full grasp of playing
basketball.

People nowadays focus much on ball handling especially those who are playing
point guard so they can carry the ball across the court without committing errors and
to effectively attack and drive to the basket. Ball handling is also a skill favorite among
everyone since it makes their basketball moves flashier. Overall, ball handling is a
fundamental basketball skill a person needs to play basketball. Although you can play
it without dribbling and relying only with shooting, passing or rebounding, the
experience will be less wholesome if dribbling will be left out. Plus, a player’s skill is
easily judged based on his dribbling skills especially for those who are playing in the
point guard position. Players of other positions like centers and power forwards also
possess great dribbling skills as an additional skill to their arsenal of moves.

Further in this paper, I will enumerate exceptional players who are known for
their great ball handling skill and how they utilize it to be an effective player on the
court. Most of the players that will be enumerated will obviously be point guards since
it is a position that greatly depends on ball handling.

Players with Great Ball-Handling skills

1. Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)

Jio “The Cyclone” Jalalon

Born: 2 August 1992 (age 27 years), Cagayan de Oro

Height: 1.75 m
 Weight: 68 kg
Current team: Magnolia Hotshots (#6 / Point guard)
Education: Arellano University, Informatics Philippines

The PBA has a lot of players that excel with ball handling. In fact, almost all of
them have exceptional handling even the bigs. But if it was a choice, it would be “The
Cyclone” Jio Jalalon. All of us know Terrence Romeo for having insane handles but
when it comes to handles that are efficient and leaves no wasted effort, I will choose
Jalalon. He is not a flashy point guard but he gets the job done. His ball handling is
underrated but you will admire it when you see him use it fearlessly. For me, he is
using his handling in an efficient way and considering his height, he plays good
against the taller players of the PBA. His only disadvantage is his height. But if you
will take a closer look, it’s actually an advantage the way he uses his height to play
smartly against taller opponents.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vw1GxsYRzo

2. Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL)

Eliud “Eloy” Poligrates

Born: 29 November 1987 (age 32 years), Poro

Height: 1.83 m
Weight: 84 kg
Current team: Rizal Golden Coolers
Education: Southwestern University
Position: Point guard

Also known as “the Professor” (an American ball handling star) of the
Philippines, Eloy Poligrates’ ball handling skills is insane back in his prime. But even
if time is already creeping before him, his basketball skills are still as fresh as
yesterday. He even scored a 67-point game in his MVP season in MPBL which is
unbelievable for his age. His advantage in playing is of course his rich experience and
his basketball IQ. In spite of all these, it is evident that he is already slowing down
because of time, and that would be his disadvantage.
 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG4Bk72LKls

3. University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)

Mark “The Flash” Nonoy

Hometown: La Carlota City, Negros Occidental

Height: 5-foot-8
Age: 20 years old
Current team: UST Growling Tigers
Position: Shooting Guard/ Point Guard

Dubbed as the next Jayson Castro and labeled as “The Flash” because of his
speed, Mark Nonoy is definitely one of the top guards to watch this season. Coming
out as the best high school point guard in the country, he now plays in the collegiate
level representing the Growling Tigers. After playing as freshmen, he bagged the rookie
of the year award and mythical 5 selection. For me, Mark Nonoy is someone with a
great ball handling because he has the skill to carry the ball across the court in full
speed without losing his touch on the ball and being able to finish and score. Handling
the ball in complement with great speed is not easy feat; elite players have this
handling ability to control the ball movement in consonance with their speed. His
advantage is his jumping vertical and fearlessness to attack the basket while his
disadvantage is his height, just like Jio Jalalon.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdiqVORJQgY

4. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

 RK “Little Steph” Ilagan

Hometown: Tondo, Manila

Height: 5-foot-8
Age: 22 years old
Current team: San Sebastian Stags
Position: Point Guard/ Shooting Guard

Known as San Sebastian’s top gun in offense, RK Ilagan is also known in NCAA
for threes from way beyond the arc which earned him the recognition as NCAA’s
Stephen Curry. But aside from his deadly range and marksmanship, he is also
equipped with deadly crossovers in complement with his great ball-handling skill. As a
Bedan, I personally watch NCAA games of San Beda, and whenever San Beda has a
matchup with San Sebastian, I personally witness this man’s high scoring game and
as well as his basketball moves like his deadly crossovers. For his disadvantage, just
like the rest of the players I enumerated, is of course his height.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8mL3mic8DQ