Bahag-ketball: An NBA film on Igorot mountain ballers is now streaming

Still from “The Mountain Ballers of the Philippines”/YouTube

In the Philippines, ball is life.

Step out onto any local street, and you’ll likely spot a makeshift rim affixed precariously to a tree, a utility pole, or any solid vertical surface that would do the job. Filipinos—young and old—make use of every available space to engage in the sport. Car horns become their halftime buzzer, and every car that passes prompts an improvised timeout.

Watching NBA (or PBA) games is practically a national pastime here—with young hoop dreamers harboring fantasies of knocking down three-pointers like Stephen Curry or dunks like Vince Carter.

But here’s the kicker: While most might assume that basketball is an urban affair, our passion for the sport doesn’t confine itself to the cities. It doesn’t stop at the metropolis or fade away in the rural landscapes. It stretches its arms wide and embraces the farthest reaches of the nation.

Written and directed by Filipino filmmaker Carlo Ledesma, the documentary peels back the layers of their unique love affair with basketball, and how it has become an integral part of their lives.

Tadian is predominantly home to farmers who tirelessly toil under the sun. But amid the demands of the field, basketball serves as a nirvana. It’s their way to “unwind” after a long day’s work. “Kahit pagod pag-uwi, [kapag] may nakikita akong kasamahang nag-ba-basketball, basketball pa rin,” says local Rocky Biswelan in the film.

(“Even after a taxing day, if I see my village mates playing basketball on my way home, I will still play with them.”)

Still from “The Mountain Ballers of the Philippines”/YouTube

With satellite TVs now dotting households in their area, the Igorot people have gained access to the NBA and inevitably become fans of the game.

The origin of “bahag-ketball”

The heart of the film, however, lies in the blend of tradition and modernity at the Ayyoweng Di Lambak Ed Tadian. It’s a yearly festival where locals don their traditional clothing with pride. For them, such celebration is more than just a nod to their heritage; it’s a means to keep the embers of their culture alive.

Recently, a contemporary addition to the cultural festivities has set the town abuzz: the “bahag-ketball.” The game mechanics are as simple as they’re symbolic—the participants should wear bahags (a.k.a. traditional loincloths) and hit the court barefoot.

Still from “The Mountain Ballers of the Philippines”/YouTube

As Tadian vice mayor George Bisen, Jr. explains, “It’s a way to remember the old style of playing basketball of the old communities. It shows na ang mga Igorot noon ay naglalaro na rin ng basketball. (It shows that even our ancestors played basketball.)”

“The Mountain Ballers of the Philippines” is part of the “NBA Films for Fans” project. It’s an initiative featuring 24 short documentary films that “celebrate the NBA and basketball” from the cultural perspectives of various countries.

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The films had their initial premiere at the NBA All-Star 2023, and were first streamed via the NBA App.

To date, “The Mountain Ballers of the Philippines” is the only film available on the league’s official YouTube channel. But here’s hoping that the NBA uploads all of the films soon.