Basketball superfan Ariel Morales shows off his huge collection of PBA jerseys. Now if you're thinking hardcore jersey collectors are rare, you're probably right. Ariel is one proof that what he does is a solitary pursuit. After all, he does it not as an investment but just as a hobby to overcome stress. He has amassed more than 600 individual pieces and nothing is for SALE from his whole collection. Not his PBA's 50 Greatest Players autographs. Nor his NBA's 50 Greatest Players autographs. He's a lucky guy, you could say.
Check out his story and see how his obsession brings him closer to the game he loves.
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Check out his story and see how his obsession brings him closer to the game he loves.
Click here to subscribe to OG:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIj3xiW-RIO2cpr5LBvokRg/?sub_confirmation=1
About OG
Using the power of video to tell one good story at a time... ONLY GOOD... OG.
OG is Summit Media's video first brand. And like all Summit Media brands, OG is anchored on top-notch storytelling to delight, inspire, and connect with our audiences.
We are deliberate in creating content that spread positivity, inspiration, and good vibes. Expect only good here at OG. Subscribe and be part of the community!
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LifestyleTranscript
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]
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07:44 Thank you for watching.