If, for some reason, you’re still not convinced you should grab a copy of Pacific Rims…

Posted by Jaemark Tordecilla on June 16, 2010 at 17:41 | Comments (13)

I spent more than a thousand words on my review of Rafe Bartholomew’s Pacific Rims, and it’s a good thing GMANews.TV still published it:

AS A SPORTS BOOK, however, Pacific Rims really shines while detailing Bartholomew’s 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference stint covering the Alaska Aces, who welcome him with open arms, but not before giving him the same Filipino nickname that was given to Panchito in several Joey de Leon movies.

Here’s where the inevitable comparisons to David Halberstam’s classic "Breaks of the Game" are drawn, and these comparisons are not entirely unwarranted. Bartholomew’s writing sparkles as he paints portraits of several members of Alaska, making the characters leap out of the pages: Tim Cone, the coaching lifer who taught himself the Chicago Bulls’ triangle offense; Jeffrey Cariaso, the team’s spiritual leader who bridges the divide between the team’s locals and Fil-Ams; Dale Singson and Aaron Aban, former college basketball stars who have bonded at the end of the Alaska bench; Rosell Ellis, the world-weary import seeking basketball redemption; and Willie Miller, perhaps the book’s most indelible character: equal parts jester, enigma, and unstoppable scoring machine. The funniest anecdote in the book involves Miller playing a prank on teammate Tony dela Cruz that gives new meaning to the former’s “Willie Thriller” nickname.

Read the whole thing here.

Also, the great Tom Ziller from Fanhouse called the book a sequel to Breaks of the Game. The classic by Halberstam featured, among many memorable characters, the mercurial Billy Ray Bates. Pacific Rims quite literally picked up from where Breaks of the Game left off, chronicling the Black Superman’s years in the Philippines, which Deadspin posted as an excerpt today. Go read.

UPDATE: My buddy AJ reports that the book is also available in Australia, while commenter RPM writes that he got his copy at Powerbooks Greenbelt, where there are still a handful of copies.

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Tags: Alaska Aces, Basketball, Billy Ray Bates, Philippine Basketball Association, Rafe Bartholomew

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#1 Mark Lorenzana on 2010-06-16 17:53 (Reply)

Jaemark,

I wanna get a copy but I don't think the book even hit bookstores here in Cebu. I've been to National Bookstore, Power Books, and Fully Booked but no luck. Power Books can order one for me from the US but I will need to shell out at least 1,500 bucks for a copy.

Are copies of the book still available there in Manila? If they are, I can ask my cousin to get a copy for me. Where did you get your copy, by the way?

Daghang Salamat!

Mark

#1.1 jaemark on 2010-06-16 17:56 (Reply)

Rafe had a tweet that there were only 500 copies in stock all over the Philippines, so konti talaga. I'll ask for an update if there will be new stocks soon.

I got mine at Fully Booked, but it was the last copy in the store when I bought it too.

#2 Mark Lorenzana on 2010-06-16 18:00 (Reply)

OK, thanks! :)

#3 Legendary Skyflakes25 on 2010-06-16 18:41 (Reply)

Will have to order from the US then.

#4 Rafe on 2010-06-16 20:01 (Reply)

Thanks for the info, guys. I am constantly bugging Penguin to send more books. They blame the stores there for not ordering more. Bola yata yun. But if I keep forwarding these messages to them, they'll figure it out eventually. I hope. Sorry it's proving so hard to get a book and that you guys have been running around to different stores. One guy told me on Twitter he was taking the ferry from Tagbilaran to try and buy one in Cebu, and I was like "NOOOOOOO!!!!!"

#5 Sinigang Tampines on 2010-06-16 21:33 (Reply)

i got mine at National Bookstore Alabang Town Center where there were just 3 copies left as of last weekend. i'm still in Chapter 4, haven't had the time to read because of work... but so far, i'm enjoying every page.

it's a must have for every Pinoy basketball fan. hope Rafe comes back for a book signing.

#5.1 jaemark on 2010-06-16 21:36 (Reply)

heard that he plans to be back in July. should be fun, sana matuloy.

#6 workhorse3 on 2010-06-16 23:45 (Reply)

proud owner here. First heard it in FQ, and Jae, we almost contested the last copy in Fully Booked Rockwell until I found a decent stock in Powerbooks Megamall. Got really hooked reading it and I never wanted it to end (unfortunately I finished last Friday). Every die-hard pinoy hoop fan should buy it.

#7 Bong on 2010-06-17 07:38 (Reply)

I got the Kindle version of this, read the first few chapters, so far so good, very informative and very funny. One thing that I noticed is that Rafe sometimes over-exaggerate things, which can be forgiven, to add some flair to the book. My only concern is that non-filipino readers might have a bad taste about the philippines after reading this book (the first few chapters anyway). Another thing is that sometimes I feel like Rafe is confused if he's going to talk/write about himself or about filipino basketball. I havent finished the book yet but like I said, I like what I've read so far.

#8 AJ on 2010-06-17 13:12 (Reply)

wooohoooo!!! they have it here in australia.

http://www.borders.com.au/book/pacific-rims-beermen-ballin-in-flip-flops-and-the-philippines-unlikely-love-affairwith-basketball/7740356/

now will find a way to make the wife allow me to buy.

#9 rpm on 2010-06-17 16:29 (Reply)

got mine from powerbooks in greenbelt. there were still plenty of copies in the shelf, so you guys might want to try getting it there.

#10 Ronald L. Ramos on 2010-06-18 15:59 (Reply)

This is an amazing book! I got my copy (the only one they had) at powerbooks in Robinson's Manila. In my excitement I forgot to get it discounted with my powercard. Ah well.

Its great. Slept really late because I forgot the time while reading Rafe's book. I chuckled a lot at his little anecdotes especially when he was playing pick up ball.

IF you are a true basketball fan get a copy!

#11 Joseph on 2010-07-05 15:44 (Reply)

Finally got a copy of this book and indeed it is a must read for every Filipino basketball fan, which is practically the greater majority. Although some parts are indeed exagerated, its forgivable as it is done to provide additional zest to the story. Call Fullybook/Powerbooks and have your copies reserved so as not to waste time and find that all stocks are already reserved - happened to me twice before I finally grabbed my own copy.