The big 'Bad Boy' who lives by the Golden Rule
Sunday, October 3, 2010
JOSEF T. RAMOS
(Excerpt to the article written by JOSEF T. RAMOS to the Manila Times front page last October 2, 2010)
FOR this year’s 6’7” second overall rookie top pick Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the people can call him whatever they like or even brand him the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) newest emerging “bad boy.”
 But Al-Hussaini, a former two-time Most Valuable Player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in 2008 and 2009, said he doesn’t really care to what people say about him positive or negative.
“I’m just trying to be myself,” the 22-year-old Al-Hussaini told the Manila Times on Tuesday during Air21’s practice at the Reyes gym in Mandaluyong. “In the first place, I’m not doing anything wrong to other people. That’s the golden rule.”
He averaged at least 18 points and 10 rebounds during his two years with Ateneo in the UAAP.
Asked what he can say about the negative comments appeared in newspapers (But not to the Times) that he’s uncoachable and bigheaded, Al-Hussaini simply said “they don’t know me so I don’t care.”
Al-Hussaini, who expected to be Air21’s top overall pick but became second only in the recent rookie draft last August, said he only expressed what he felt that time – a bit disappointed – but later on realized that’s only a motivation to keep him strong.
 Some of the great players who are on top most of the time, Al-Hussaini said, have so many critics just like National Basketball Association superstars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, so it’s natural to be criticized by anybody.
“I’m against crab mentality,” said Al-Hussaini. “They are not happy when somebody is on top and that’s the saddest part of our society. I played hard in all my games and achieved a lot, but you can hear nothing from me. I’m just this simple guy.”
He also denied that he snubbed the PBA’s fashion show at Ali Mall Cubao recently, saying that he and his mother had an important matter to attend so that’s the exact reason why he did not make it.
Al-Hussaini’s goal is to help the Air21 express achieve a milestone – the team’s first ever title since joining the league in 2002. “That’s my goal right now to make our team competitive,” he said.
Even Air21 head coach Yeng Guiao, the vice-governor of Pampanga, said he doesn’t believe at all to what he heard before regarding the negative things on Al-Hussaini based on what he sees in practices.
“Al-Hussaini really plays like a veteran and I haven’t seen the negative things said of him. They say he’s a hardheaded guy, uncoachable, bad character. But so far, he is not,” said Guiao. |
Johann Heinrich Lambert G. Ramos serves as President of Linaheim Corporate Services, Inc., which is a proud member of the Lina Group of Companies. He was appointed President last January 2010...
IF THERE is a businessman whose passion for sports and business are incomparable and impressive, Alberto "Bert" Lina has delivered successful results to basketball, cycling and different businesses throughout the years...
