Ang "Game On! The Podcast" host na si Anton Roxas ang surprise guest na makakakuwentuhan ni Pia Arcangel! Paano nga ba ang naging journey niya pagdating sa sportscasting? Sino naman ang kanyang idol na itinuturing niyang wildest sports memory niya? Sa usapin lovelife, single ba siya or taken?
Alamin ang lahat ng iyan sa newest episode ng Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel!
Alamin ang lahat ng iyan sa newest episode ng Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel!
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00:00Surprise everyone and welcome to a new episode of Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel and today's
00:07surprise will be just like all others, special in every way and we have absolutely no idea
00:14who today's guest will be but I think that our guest shall reveal himself or herself.
00:22No clues whatsoever, our guest will just suddenly appear. Are you there, Surprise Guest?
00:28Ma'am Pia, hi!
00:30How are you?
00:32You also have a podcast, right?
00:34Don't you have a recording today?
00:36Thankfully, I don't have one today.
00:38So I'm free to accept the invite and can I just say I'm relieved that you actually recognize who I am
00:44considering the fact that we've only met once and we can still talk.
00:50So I'm glad to be here and it's great to see you.
00:52Our surprise guest is none other than Anton Rojas, one of our sportscasters on GMA.
00:57You said Anton, we've only met once but of course, I still get to watch you on TV.
01:01And of course, I know all about you. How are you?
01:05Wow, so I've been getting that question a lot and the usual answer I give is I'm a little bit tired to be honest
01:13because NCAA Season 99, which is the second big tournament of the NCAA.
01:19I serve as the, aside from being a commentator, I'm also the head writer, the feature writer,
01:25voice-over artist. So all the features and headlines that come out, I think about that.
01:31So almost every day, I'm on my laptop coming up with scripts, coming up with VOs.
01:37So I'm actually kind of relieved. It's been a fulfilling season and I can't wait to prepare for the next one
01:43which is going to be the biggest one ever, Season 100.
01:46Wow, Anton, I did not know that you also wear so many caps off-cam and behind the camera.
01:51I didn't know that you're also one of the producers and writers.
01:54Is this for each game?
01:55Yes, every game.
01:57Wow, that's why you're tired.
02:01It's okay. It's very fulfilling and somebody's got to do it.
02:05Wait, but when you started, Anton, tell us how you started as a sportscaster.
02:10When you started, were you really already doing off-cam work?
02:13Were you doing production work already or did you start as a commentator right away?
02:19Alright, so here's the thing.
02:20I'm one of the 80% of young Filipino boys who always dreamt about becoming a basketball player one day.
02:30So that was the biggest dream for me, to one day make it to the PBA and even the NBA.
02:35That's how big my dreams were back in the day.
02:39But unfortunately, when I got to college, I was too small and not good enough to make LaSalle and UP,
02:45the two teams that I tried out for.
02:47So it was at that moment that I told myself,
02:50maybe basketball is not for me, maybe it's time for me to do something else.
02:55So I went to LaSalle in college and my course was Business Management with specialization in Applied Corporate Management.
03:01So my track was actually to work in the corporate world.
03:05Now, this is what happened.
03:06My girlfriend at the time got into the company that I wanted to work into.
03:13So I said, just stay there because I don't want to work in the same company as her.
03:20The other company I was eyeing was the one I really liked.
03:23So I applied there and HR told me,
03:26I am sorry, Mr. Rojas, but I don't think we are going to have any vacancies within the year or the next coming years.
03:33So he slammed the door right in my face.
03:35So I said, what am I going to do?
03:38And then by a stroke of good luck,
03:40I met this boxing trainer who knew a boxing promoter in Cebu,
03:45who was looking for a commentator.
03:47So I said, maybe I can go there.
03:50Maybe it's okay for the promoter to try me out.
03:54So my dad bought me a ticket to Cebu.
03:57I flew out there.
03:58This was back in 2008.
04:00And I was given a chance to commentate at a boxing event.
04:04So that's where it all started for me.
04:06Wow, I didn't know you started with boxing.
04:08I would have thought you started with basketball.
04:11But wait, when you auditioned as a boxing commentator,
04:14did you also box?
04:15Or did you watch?
04:16I watched boxing.
04:18I was watching during the time of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowie.
04:24My dad was a boxing fan, so I would watch with him.
04:27So I met that boxing trainer because I was training boxing just for fitness.
04:33But I'm not really super into boxing.
04:35It was just really to get in shape and just trying out other sports for fun.
04:40Hold on, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield.
04:42How old were you then?
04:43I'm sure you were still very young.
04:45That was in the 90s.
04:46So maybe around 10 years old, something like that.
04:51Okay, wow.
04:52I did not know this about you.
04:54I just always thought, because I see you in NCAE,
04:56I think, oh, basketball.
04:57This is a basketball guy.
04:59I didn't know that you also have a boxing background.
05:02Yeah, that's where I started.
05:04Did you have to live in Cebu?
05:05Not really?
05:06No, no, no.
05:07It was a one-day thing.
05:08It was a one-day event.
05:09I flew there, and then the following day,
05:12it was a daytime morning, actually, boxing event.
05:16So I did the event, and it was a rush.
05:19So when I got back to Manila, I told my dad,
05:22I said, I enjoyed it.
05:24Maybe it's something that I want to pursue.
05:27Eventually, I was able to get a couple of more gigs.
05:30Thanks as well to the late Ronnie Nathaniel who had a show,
05:33and he decided to get me as a guest on his show.
05:37So that's where I started with boxing.
05:39But it wasn't anything regular.
05:41It was just every time there was a boxing event.
05:44And then from boxing, that's how you got the experience,
05:47and then later on, you applied for basketball.
05:49Yes.
05:50The following year.
05:52So boxing was in 2008.
05:54Basketball was in 2009.
05:58Because it was cut off.
05:59Like I said, it wasn't a regular thing.
06:01So I was only getting a chance to commentate on boxing
06:04every time there was an event.
06:06The rest of the time, I wasn't doing anything.
06:08I wasn't even applying for the corporate world
06:11because the two companies that I wanted to get in,
06:13I couldn't go in anymore for the reasons that I stated previously.
06:18So one day, I was just in my room and then watching TV,
06:22and then I saw a commercial.
06:24Do you want to be a courtside reporter?
06:26Submit your resume to blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
06:28So I got a pen and paper.
06:29I was writing it down.
06:30And then I went there to ABS-CBN.
06:32I submitted my resume.
06:34And then next thing I know, I got a text saying,
06:37do you want to audition as an anchor for the NCAA?
06:40So I auditioned, and thankfully, I got in.
06:43That was in June 2009.
06:46And that was the start of the long journey
06:49that I have been on up to this very day.
06:52It's been 15 years.
06:54I'm fast at computing.
06:55Is that right? 15?
06:57Yes, yes.
06:58Hold on, Anton.
07:00I like how you came up with the figure 80%.
07:0280% of Pinoys want to end up playing basketball.
07:06So you said you tried out for college, UP and La Salle.
07:09Does this mean that you were playing when you were in high school?
07:12Yes.
07:13So I played UAAP basketball for De La Salle-Jobel in high school.
07:17That was UAAP Season 65 and UAAP Season 66.
07:21It's UAAP Season 86 right now.
07:24So that was 20 years ago,
07:26since I last played competitive basketball as a varsity player.
07:30It was the year 2002 and the year 2003.
07:332003 was the last time I played.
07:35So that was the highest level of basketball that I played.
07:39But it's still the UAAP,
07:41so still something I can be very proud of.
07:44And a lot of the people that I was connected to during those days,
07:47I'm still very close to up to today,
07:50and I still cross paths with.
07:52So I'm very thankful for the experience.
07:54Wow. I can't believe it's been that long since you graduated high school.
07:58It's not obvious.
07:59You know, you look like you just graduated high school 5 years ago.
08:05Maybe it's the Captain America shield.
08:08I'm a kid at heart.
08:12That was one of the first things I noticed actually when you came on.
08:15I was like, oh, Anton is a Captain America fan.
08:18You mentioned that you're a kid at heart.
08:22What is it that you like to do aside from your full-time job of being a sports anchor?
08:27I think number one is,
08:29this is mandatory for me.
08:30It's to stay in shape.
08:32And that means whether it's playing basketball,
08:35going to the gym, going for a run.
08:38I recently got into golf.
08:40Whatever it is that I can do to be physically fit, I do it.
08:45That's mandatory to me.
08:46Like I cannot go a week without exercising.
08:50So in the time that I have when I'm not working,
08:53more often than not, I'm working out.
08:57I hope you can inspire me.
09:00So I can do the same.
09:01Not a week goes by that you don't work out.
09:04Are you the type that when you don't go to the gym or exercise,
09:08you get lethargic?
09:09Yeah.
09:10There's a saying,
09:11your body is looking for you.
09:13If you haven't played basketball for a long time,
09:17your body is looking for you.
09:19So it's like that for me.
09:21When I don't sweat, my body is looking for it.
09:23And you're right.
09:24I feel lethargic.
09:25I wake up in the morning and I tell myself,
09:28I have to work out.
09:29I have to get the juices flowing, the adrenaline going.
09:33And I think that helps also with the type of work I'm in,
09:37covering games, because it's also sports.
09:40So what are your other sports aside from basketball?
09:43Recently, I got into golf.
09:46And that was because of the pandemic.
09:48So I'm 37 years old now.
09:51And I know I cannot play basketball forever
09:54because it's a very demanding sport physically.
09:57It's dangerous for the ankles and the knees.
10:00So I said,
10:01I should start getting into a sport that doesn't require
10:05that much exertion with regards to my lower body and physicality.
10:11So I thought, why not golf?
10:13It seems like not such a physical sport.
10:16It's non-contact.
10:17But what I didn't realize was that it's very time-consuming.
10:21I can imagine.
10:22It's like half a day to play a game of golf.
10:24Yes.
10:25And then here's the thing, Ma'am Tia.
10:27When you play golf and you play 18 holes,
10:29it's so hot.
10:31So after the whole 18 rounds,
10:33you won't get tired because of walking around the golf course.
10:37You're also tired because of the elements,
10:39because of the heat.
10:40And then, of course, after that, you want to eat.
10:43So you can still chat with your teammates.
10:46It just takes up so much of your time.
10:48And that's something I did not realize.
10:50So to all those who are planning to play golf,
10:53consider that because time is very important nowadays.
10:56And you can't just devote it to something
10:59when you have so many other responsibilities.
11:02And it's an expensive sport too, right?
11:05Yes.
11:08Yes.
11:09Here's the thing.
11:10I'm a little bit lucky, Ms. P,
11:12because my dad has a golf set.
11:15So I didn't have to buy a golf set.
11:18But the thing is, I invested in it.
11:20I even coached.
11:21I hired a coach.
11:22Yes.
11:23So the coach was teaching me.
11:24And the coach was saying,
11:25Anton, your clubs are old.
11:28So I said,
11:29That's embarrassing.
11:30So aside from investing in the coach,
11:32eventually, I also had to invest in the clubs.
11:35And you're right.
11:36It was so expensive.
11:37So aside from the time,
11:39you also have to consider that it's expensive.
11:41So you have to make use of it, Anton.
11:43You really have to use it until now.
11:45How often do you play golf?
11:47That's it.
11:48My friends who play golf with me are telling me,
11:52What's that?
11:53You haven't played for a long time?
11:55You're not a golfer anymore.
11:56You don't even play anymore.
11:57It's been a while.
11:58It's been a while.
11:59But maybe this is a sign.
12:01Because I reminded you.
12:03I reminded you that the golf club you bought is expensive.
12:05So you have to use it.
12:08Okay, you do golf.
12:09You do basketball sometimes.
12:11And then you also do boxing.
12:13Are there non-sports activities that you like to do
12:15that keep you busy?
12:16Yeah.
12:17I mean, just like any regular guy,
12:19I like hanging out with friends.
12:20I like going to the movies,
12:22going to the mall.
12:23So I'm really just a regular guy.
12:26I don't do anything special.
12:29Just living life and going where the wind takes me,
12:32pretty much.
12:33Oh, but you know what I noticed about you, Anton?
12:36That's why I recognized you right away.
12:38It's because of,
12:39I mean, of course, because I watch you,
12:40but also because of your hair.
12:42And so you have this fashionista vibe about you, right?
12:48Am I right?
12:50I mean, because your hair is very unique, right?
12:53What do you call that?
12:54Is that a mullet?
12:55Yes, that's what they call it, a mullet.
12:58So I have a funny story.
12:59Two years ago,
13:00mullets became popular among basketball players.
13:03As in, UAP, NCAA,
13:06all the players had a mullet.
13:08That's true.
13:10Yes.
13:11That's why I get confused when I watch a game.
13:14And to be honest,
13:15I didn't know what that hairstyle was.
13:18I didn't know.
13:19And then Papa Bear, Benji Paras,
13:21I was covering a game with him,
13:22and he told me,
13:23Hey, his hair looks like Hall & Oates.
13:26And he said this live.
13:28He said this live.
13:29And my face was like this.
13:32Because I didn't know who Hall & Oates was.
13:35So I researched Hall & Oates,
13:38and I said,
13:39Wow, you need to google Hall & Oates.
13:41I am so sorry.
13:43So that's when I realized,
13:45Ah, it's them.
13:47So there, they have the mullet.
13:50So I said,
13:51You know what?
13:52I'm bored with my old hairstyle.
13:54Why don't I just grow the back out?
13:56So I tried it,
13:57and so there it is.
13:59So your mullet is two years old.
14:02Yes.
14:03Miss P, the basketball players have moved on.
14:06They shaved off the mullet.
14:08I'm the only one with a mullet now.
14:10I'd be surprised if I saw somebody with a mullet.
14:12Actually, 30 Ravena has a mullet right now.
14:15But he's over in Japan.
14:17Really?
14:18I haven't seen a picture of 30 in a long time.
14:21I'll look for it.
14:22But not just your hair,
14:24even your clothes, the way you dress.
14:26You like to try new things.
14:28Am I right in my assumption?
14:30I experiment.
14:31Let's just put it that way.
14:32I'm into trends.
14:34I see the players with hair.
14:36Hmm, does that suit me?
14:38So I tried it.
14:39So if I see a certain brand that people are wearing,
14:42especially the people that I look up to,
14:45celebrities, players,
14:47and I say, hey, that looks pretty cool.
14:49Maybe that'll look good on me.
14:51So I like to experiment.
14:53But nowadays, I'm getting older,
14:55so sometimes it's hard to keep up with trends.
14:59Like right now, baggy pants are back.
15:02Really? I didn't notice that.
15:05Yes.
15:06What do you call those pants that...
15:09Like a bell-bottom.
15:11That cover your shoes in the end.
15:14It's kind of tight in the leg area,
15:16but once it gets down to the feet,
15:18it gets loose.
15:19So that's the trend now.
15:21But I said, you know what, I'm done.
15:23I'm going to stick to my slim fit jeans.
15:28But you never say never, right?
15:30Especially when it comes to fashion.
15:33Yeah.
15:34I mean, sometimes I try.
15:36If I feel comfortable in it,
15:37then I'll stick with it.
15:39But nowadays, I'm realizing that
15:41it's better to just be yourself
15:43and stick to what you're comfortable with.
15:45Something that you're very comfortable with,
15:47like we've been talking about is sports,
15:49which is probably one of the reasons why
15:51it seems to me that you guys are having so much fun
15:54on your new podcast,
15:56which is Game On, right?
15:58Yeah.
15:59I'm just very honored that we were given this chance
16:02and this new platform
16:03to be part of the GMA Podcast family.
16:07I mean, this is part of it.
16:09Surprise guest with PR Kanghel.
16:11Now, there's a sports podcast
16:13that the GMA decided to include
16:15in the Game On Podcast
16:16with Martin O'Veara and Coach Hammer,
16:18Martin Antonio, of course.
16:19So it's just nice to have sports
16:21to be among the topics now
16:24among the GMA Podcasts.
16:26Who are some of the guests you've had so far?
16:29So we've had Clint Escamiz.
16:31He's the MVP of the NCAA
16:34and he's pretty much the face of the NCAA.
16:38He's the one with the headband, right?
16:40Yes, yes.
16:41We've had Agatha Wong.
16:43And then we've had Coach Oliver Almadro.
16:45We have Erica Dy,
16:47Executive Director of SBP, Erica Dy,
16:49and Arellano Chief Squad Coach Lucky Sanjuan.
16:53It's still a baby podcast,
16:54but we're looking to build it
16:56and have more guests on the show.
16:58Are you also very hands-on in the podcast?
17:01Not as hands-on as I am in the NCAA.
17:04So we have our producer, RR,
17:06who plans everything,
17:08decides who the guest is going to be.
17:10But in terms of the preparation and the research,
17:13that won't be missing.
17:15So that's what I bring.
17:16The Olympics is just around the corner,
17:18so you have a lot to talk about on the show, right?
17:21Correct, correct.
17:23Do you have a favorite Olympic event to watch as a spectator,
17:26aside from basketball?
17:28Man, aside from basketball?
17:30To be honest, it's really just basketball for me
17:32when it comes to the Olympics.
17:34I'm really looking forward to the Dream Team,
17:37the U.S. Basketball,
17:39especially now with what is happening.
17:41The world is starting to catch up with Team USA.
17:44So now LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry,
17:47they're all coming together.
17:49It's like the Avengers to redeem themselves
17:52and try to reclaim their place as the basketball superpower.
17:56But of course, I'm cheering for the likes of EJ Obiena
17:59to represent the flag.
18:01That's pretty much it.
18:02Really just sticking to my core
18:04and following what got me into sports in the first place,
18:07which is basketball.
18:08Well, for sure, you're not alone in cheering for EJ
18:11and seeing where basketball in the Olympics will lead us.
18:15Do you think this is the last for LeBron,
18:18Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry?
18:21I mean, LeBron is already 40+, right?
18:25Stay updated with Nelson Canlas.
18:29Have you been busted?
18:30No.
18:31Oh, come with confidence, huh?
18:33The online source for anything showbiz.
18:36Wait a minute, Rey, I have a surprise for you.
18:38Hello?
18:39Oh!
18:40The latest celebrity news.
18:42New to our updaters.
18:46You've been a Dream Team for seven months.
18:48Why did you just get released?
18:51Wow, that's so direct.
18:53Follow the principles.
18:55Whatever you do, don't get hurt.
18:58Be fair and be grateful.
19:00Updated with Nelson Canlas.
19:09Do you think this is the last for LeBron,
19:12Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry?
19:15I mean, LeBron is already 40+, right?
19:18I was just talking about this with my colleagues
19:21a couple of days ago
19:23that we're living in an era where
19:26LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry,
19:28they're on the way out.
19:30Here are Anthony Edwards,
19:32Luka Doncic,
19:34Victor Wenbanyama.
19:36This is the future.
19:38Shea Gilgis-Alexander,
19:40and I don't know who else.
19:42I don't know who else.
19:44I don't know who else.
19:46Shea Gilgis-Alexander.
19:48These are all young players below 25
19:51who are taking over the NBA.
19:53So we're in that transition period
19:55where we're going to have to say goodbye
19:58and salute the likes of LeBron
20:00and welcome the likes of Anthony Edwards
20:03to take over the NBA and the game of basketball in general.
20:06I felt sad when you said it's time to say goodbye to LeBron.
20:10It's like I'm not ready.
20:13It's also a reminder for us to savor
20:16and appreciate them while they are here
20:19because before you know it,
20:21we're in a different chapter.
20:23For you, the players to watch out for in the NBA
20:25are Wenbanyama, Luka Doncic, and Anthony Edwards.
20:29Anthony Edwards is getting a lot of hype right now, right?
20:33They see similarities between him and Michael Jordan.
20:36Do you see that too?
20:37Yes, I see it.
20:39I'm a Michael Jordan fan.
20:41Everything I do is influenced by him.
20:45He was the reason why I wanted to be a basketball player.
20:48For me to see somebody who plays similar to him,
20:53it just goes to show that Michael Jordan's influence
20:56goes beyond generations.
20:59This is the new generation.
21:02We see the influence from Michael Jordan
21:05who played in the 90s.
21:07To see that kind of impact is just amazing.
21:10It tells me that my idol is right.
21:13That's a great way of putting it.
21:15Your idol is right.
21:17It's so interesting that you say also
21:19that his influence spans different generations.
21:22I can see that because I would have thought
21:24that we grew up while Michael Jordan was playing.
21:28But you also still idolize him.
21:30You must have been grade school when he was playing.
21:33Yes, grade school.
21:35My friend had a standee of Michael Jordan in her room.
21:38She said, he's a fan of Michael Jordan.
21:40Even my daughter, she's only in high school,
21:43but she's a big Bulls fan.
21:45She has merch of Bulls.
21:47You're saying it that way that his legacy really lives on.
21:50That's probably why everybody's so interested in Anthony Edwards.
21:53That's a great point.
21:55What is it about Anthony Edwards do you think
21:58is very similar to Michael Jordan?
22:00Aside from the fact that they say they look alike.
22:02There's even a joke that he's one of his long-lost children.
22:06But that's another conversation.
22:08It's the killer instinct.
22:10Michael Jordan, what separates him from LeBron,
22:14Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant,
22:16although Kobe was very close,
22:18it was the killer instinct.
22:20It's the type of person that will say,
22:22just give me the ball and let me take us home.
22:25Get out of my way.
22:26I'm going to lead us to the win.
22:28It's so rare to find somebody who is impervious to pressure,
22:32seemingly impervious to pressure.
22:34Michael Jordan was that type of person.
22:38Every time a big moment came,
22:40he did not shrink.
22:42I think that's what's most impressive about him.
22:45That's why, to me and to many people,
22:48he's the greatest of all time.
22:49Here you are, looking out for whatever it is
22:52that Anthony Edwards might do in the future.
22:54If you had the opportunity to interview
22:57just one basketball player on the show,
23:01on Game On, who would it be?
23:03Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan.
23:05That was a quick answer.
23:06You didn't have a hard time.
23:08Ma'am Pia, I'll tell you a story.
23:10In 2019, I had probably the biggest opportunity of my career,
23:16the biggest job,
23:17and it was to cover the 2019 NBA All-Star Game
23:20in Charlotte, North Carolina.
23:22And during that time,
23:24the owner of the Charlotte Hornets was Michael Jordan.
23:27I was so excited to go there
23:29because I knew that there would be an opportunity for me
23:32to see MJ.
23:33It was a three-day weekend.
23:35That's why they call it All-Star Weekend.
23:36There's All-Star Friday, Saturday, All-Star Sunday.
23:39All-Star Friday, no Michael Jordan.
23:41All-Star Saturday, no Michael Jordan.
23:44All-Star Sunday, I said,
23:46please, please, Lord, let me see
23:49or just get a glimpse of Michael Jordan.
23:51The game was about to end.
23:53No Michael Jordan.
23:54So I started to sink in my seat like,
23:56oh my, I flew halfway around the world
23:59and I won't even see Michael Jordan.
24:01And then when I thought I was not going to see him anymore,
24:05people were standing in the entire venue
24:08and the game stopped.
24:09And there he was, Michael Jordan,
24:11walking on the court right at the center
24:15and I just froze and I was freaking out.
24:18I was just shouting.
24:20It was like something took over me.
24:22It's like I saw God.
24:24That's how crazy it was.
24:25And I told myself after that moment,
24:28okay, if this is it for me,
24:30if I never cover another game again,
24:33I'll be fine.
24:34Because at least I'll be able to say
24:36that in my journey in sports,
24:39I saw Michael Jordan.
24:41How far were you from Michael Jordan?
24:42I was far.
24:43I was in the nosebleeds.
24:45But still.
24:47Yes, the feeling was so immense.
24:50And being at the nosebleeds,
24:52that's when I saw the people slowly rising
24:55to just give their respects to him.
24:57So the vantage point actually made it
24:59even more dramatic.
25:00So being up there,
25:02and then seeing this one person
25:04walk at the center of the court
25:06and the whole arena rise
25:08to pay their respects,
25:10it was crazy.
25:11And to me, that was one of the greatest
25:13moments of my career
25:14and one that I will never forget.
25:16Wow.
25:17I'm the one getting goosebumps
25:18from that story alone.
25:20Wow.
25:21Imagine that.
25:22That's how big of a presence he is.
25:25When he walked in,
25:26everyone stopped.
25:27Everybody stop what you're doing.
25:29Michael Jordan is here.
25:30Yeah, and the best players in the world
25:32were playing.
25:33They were on the court.
25:34But they stopped the game for him.
25:37That's the amount of respect
25:38that they gave him
25:39and the reverence.
25:40It was crazy.
25:41It was insane.
25:42Are you a fan of the fact that
25:44he tried baseball
25:45after his professional career
25:47in basketball?
25:48Golf?
25:49Or did he do golf professionally?
25:50Not really.
25:51Oh, he was doing golf
25:52while playing basketball.
25:53Ah, okay.
25:55That was sort of like his hobby.
25:57And to Michael Jordan,
25:58he said,
25:59golf is the hardest sport
26:01because it's like
26:02playing against yourself.
26:03It's like playing
26:04in front of a mirror.
26:06So to perfect it
26:07is almost impossible.
26:08But to answer your question,
26:10am I a fan of him
26:11trying baseball?
26:12Yeah.
26:13Because it shows that,
26:14well, in the first place,
26:15he did it because his dad
26:16was a baseball player.
26:18So he did it because
26:19that was his dad's sport.
26:21And he loved his dad
26:22who was tragically murdered,
26:24which is why he left the NBA.
26:26It was an unsolved mystery.
26:28That was one of the reasons
26:29why he tried baseball.
26:30So I like that he did that
26:31because it was a way for him
26:33to get away from basketball
26:35and also,
26:36in the same breath,
26:37connect with his dad
26:39who, at the time,
26:40he was dealing with his loss.
26:42Wow, Anton.
26:43I love your Michael Jordan story,
26:45meaning your experience
26:46with Michael Jordan
26:48and all your stories about him.
26:49Are there any other
26:51star player stories
26:52that you have
26:53that have Michael Jordan
26:54effects on you?
26:56Maybe a coach or something?
26:57This is kind of a long story,
26:59but I think you're going to like it.
27:00As a sportscaster,
27:02like I said earlier,
27:03it wasn't my original dream.
27:06But at the back of my mind,
27:08since I was a basketball fan,
27:10I knew that maybe
27:12there was a slim chance
27:13that if a door opened,
27:15I would walk into that door.
27:17And that's exactly what happened.
27:18So one of the sportscasters
27:20that I watched growing up
27:21was Kenito Henson.
27:22And the reason being
27:24was of his research.
27:26He did a lot of research.
27:28He had all the information
27:29about the players,
27:30especially the imports.
27:32And I would read the newspapers
27:35and then he would have an article
27:37about a certain import.
27:39Who were the NBA players
27:40that became his teammates?
27:41Which school did he attend?
27:43And of course,
27:44who were the players
27:45that he would work well with
27:46in the PBA?
27:47So I said,
27:48you know what?
27:49I want to be like him.
27:50I want to be like Kenito Henson.
27:51I want to be an info guy.
27:53I want to be a researcher.
27:55When I got into sports,
27:56I was just like him.
27:57I did a lot of research,
27:58I had a lot of information
28:00about players,
28:01so much trivia.
28:02Like I would go to practices,
28:04talk to the coaches,
28:05talk to the players,
28:06ask them their life story.
28:07There was never a game
28:08that I was not prepared.
28:10I always say this,
28:11if I go to a coverage
28:13not prepared,
28:14without research,
28:15that's the day that
28:16I should stop this.
28:17That's the day that
28:18I should quit sportscasting
28:20because that would mean
28:21that I don't care anymore.
28:23I thought you were going to say
28:24that's why you were
28:25on Kenito's list.
28:27It's because you're
28:28on the same list.
28:31But you're right,
28:32Kenito, that's his trademark.
28:34He has the dean's list.
28:35He has the dean's list
28:36because he does his research.
28:39So there's a connection
28:40to the story, Ma'am Pia.
28:42All throughout my career,
28:44that's my style.
28:45Oh, Anton,
28:46he's the most prepared anchor.
28:48Oh, Anton,
28:49if there's a commentator
28:51that we should give an award to
28:53for the most researched,
28:54give it to him.
28:55And then I met Mico Halili.
28:58That's why you said
28:59I will like this story.
29:00Are you sure I will like this story?
29:01Yes, you're going to like this story.
29:03So I met Tito Mix
29:05because he went to ABS-CBN
29:07during the last couple of years
29:09before the shutdown.
29:10Obviously,
29:11I used to watch him growing up.
29:12And I said,
29:14Tito Mico,
29:15this is my chance
29:16to try to get to know Tito Mix
29:18and pick his brain
29:19so that maybe
29:20I can use
29:21from his wealth of experience
29:23that I could use
29:24in my own style.
29:25And he was generous enough
29:27to give me an hour
29:28of just me and him
29:29sitting down together
29:31and sharing stories
29:32and him sharing his experiences,
29:34giving advice to me.
29:35So he was well aware
29:37of my style.
29:38That I do research,
29:40I love trivia.
29:41He was very much aware
29:43of who I was.
29:44And he told me,
29:45Anton,
29:46I know you like trivia.
29:47I know you like
29:48sharing to the audience
29:49these little bits of information
29:51that you were keeping.
29:53And they're so precious to you
29:55that when you release them
29:56to the world,
29:57you're going to feel so happy
29:58because you're the only one
29:59who shared it.
30:00But sometimes,
30:01less is more.
30:03And I thought to myself,
30:04this is new.
30:05This is something
30:06that I have not been doing.
30:08And he told me,
30:09Anton,
30:10think of it as
30:11you're a chef.
30:12If you're cooking a steak,
30:14you don't want to put
30:15all the seasoning
30:16on the steak
30:17because the taste will be lost.
30:19You want the steak
30:20to have its natural taste.
30:22So don't put
30:23all the seasoning there.
30:25Just cook it the right way.
30:26Just the right seasoning.
30:27And then he also said,
30:28think of yourself as a DJ.
30:30Don't turn up the volume
30:32too high
30:33because all you're going to hear
30:34is noise.
30:35Just the right mix of sounds
30:38to get the right tune.
30:39So when he opened my mind
30:41to that perspective,
30:43I learned and I said,
30:44you know what?
30:45I'm going to try.
30:46I'm going to try
30:47this new approach.
30:48I won't just rely
30:49on my research.
30:50I'm going to try
30:51the less is more approach.
30:52So there was one game.
30:53I'll never forget this.
30:54It was a volleyball game.
30:55I mean,
30:56you also came from sports,
30:57Ma'am Pia.
30:58So you know that
30:59when there's a game winner
31:00or a game winning spike,
31:01the crowd goes crazy.
31:02Everybody just goes crazy.
31:03And if you're the commentator,
31:05you can't help it
31:06but go crazy yourself.
31:07So volleyball game.
31:08It was an athletic game.
31:10See, Mark Espero
31:11was the star open spiker
31:13of Ateneo at the time.
31:14He scores a game winning spike.
31:15And I just didn't say anything.
31:17I let the crowd come in.
31:19Players grabbing each other.
31:20I just let the moment
31:21take care of itself.
31:22And then I waited
31:23until I began talking again.
31:25But maybe for like
31:26a good seven to ten seconds,
31:28I didn't say anything.
31:29I just let the moment
31:30take care of itself.
31:31And then I get a text
31:32from Tito Mico.
31:34He says, Anton,
31:35I saw what you did
31:36with the Espero game winner.
31:38At that moment,
31:39I felt like I was able
31:40to gather some wisdom
31:42from somebody that
31:43I looked up to
31:44and was able to apply it
31:45to my own style
31:46as a sportscaster.
31:47I can imagine him saying that
31:49and you get wisdom
31:51from somebody with,
31:52in your words,
31:53a wealth of experience.
31:54But just a disclaimer,
31:55he's older than me.
31:59But you know, Anton,
32:00it's so great to see
32:01how you have grown
32:02in the industry
32:03and in your field.
32:05It seems like just yesterday,
32:07we were watching you
32:08doing the games
32:09when you first started.
32:10And now I know
32:11that you've been doing it
32:12for 15 years.
32:14Also, it's great to know
32:15that there are other things,
32:16all sorts of things
32:17that keep you busy.
32:18But there's one thing
32:19that I'm also curious about.
32:20And actually,
32:21the reason this comes to mind
32:22is because yesterday,
32:23Martin and I were together,
32:24Javier.
32:25Okay.
32:26And I always tease Martin
32:27about this.
32:29I always ask him
32:30about his love life.
32:32So I can't spare you
32:34from the same types
32:35of questions.
32:37Tell us,
32:38is there somebody special
32:40in Anton Rojas' life right now?
32:43Well, I'll answer
32:44the question first.
32:45I am totally single right now.
32:50Right now, unfortunately,
32:52no.
32:53But obviously,
32:54I want to get there
32:55in the future.
32:56But it just hasn't happened
32:57for me.
32:58And I don't know
32:59what kind of answer
33:00I can give you.
33:01But no,
33:02sad to say,
33:03it's still me living
33:04the single life.
33:05I didn't know
33:06that your brotherhood
33:07with Martin is so strong.
33:08You even have
33:09the same status
33:10of love life.
33:11Yeah.
33:12I think we work too hard.
33:14No time.
33:15No time for dating.
33:17That's probably
33:18one of the reasons.
33:19When the right person
33:20comes along,
33:21it will happen.
33:22Right?
33:23There was one time
33:24that we were champions
33:25in our village league
33:26in Alabang.
33:27And we had
33:28a victory party.
33:29And all of my teammates
33:30were married.
33:31Some of them had kids.
33:33And I was the only person
33:34there who was not married.
33:36And one of my teammates
33:37told me,
33:38you're not married?
33:39Smart man.
33:41Do whatever you want.
33:43And when you're 30,
33:44that's when you get married.
33:46So I said,
33:47wow,
33:48okay.
33:49Most people
33:50give me a hard time
33:51about not being married.
33:52This person is actually
33:53supportive.
33:55And it's coming
33:56from a married man.
33:57Yes, yes, yes.
34:00So, I mean,
34:01it's different perspectives.
34:03Yes.
34:04Exactly.
34:05Different perspectives.
34:06Sometimes, you know,
34:07when you're not actively
34:08looking for something
34:09or someone,
34:10that's when it comes, right?
34:11Agree.
34:12Agree.
34:13Yes.
34:14Especially in this day and age
34:15where you can
34:16be with somebody
34:17just by sliding
34:19DMs on social media.
34:21Yeah, I mean,
34:22that's the culture nowadays,
34:23Ma'am Pia.
34:24I mean,
34:25I started,
34:26the first girl I pursued,
34:27I was writing letters
34:28to this girl.
34:29And I was walking to her house
34:30and leaving the letter
34:31at the gate.
34:32I was calling her pager.
34:33And nowadays,
34:34relationships
34:35can happen
34:36just by sliding
34:37in a person's DMs.
34:38So,
34:39times have definitely changed.
34:41So, 2020s.
34:46Less effort.
34:48The effort will be
34:49in sustaining the relationship.
34:51But, Anton,
34:52thank you so much
34:53for sharing
34:54all your stories
34:55with us.
34:56I really enjoyed
34:57listening to your stories,
34:58your sports stories,
34:59and all your
35:00all these lessons
35:01you've learned
35:02along the
35:03you know,
35:04the span of your career.
35:05If there's just
35:06one thing,
35:07I guess,
35:08you know,
35:09the most important lesson
35:10you've learned,
35:11you know,
35:12from staying on the sidelines,
35:13covering the games,
35:14what would that be?
35:15I hope this doesn't come off
35:16as too
35:17unrelated
35:18to,
35:19like, sports.
35:20Because,
35:21I mean,
35:22that's my line of work.
35:23I don't want to wax religious,
35:24but it's really just
35:25the trust in God's plan.
35:27And that
35:28the things that are
35:29supposed to happen
35:30in your life
35:31will happen
35:32when they're
35:33supposed to happen.
35:34Like, we're talking about
35:35love life.
35:36I'm 37,
35:37and a lot of people
35:38are giving me a hard time
35:39about,
35:40why aren't you married?
35:41Why are you still single?
35:42But,
35:43I'd like to think that
35:44God does have a plan.
35:45And I do have
35:46responsibilities now
35:47that maybe
35:48can't accommodate
35:49a relationship.
35:50So maybe
35:51it is not time
35:52for me yet.
35:53And maybe one day,
35:54the time will come.
35:56But right now,
35:57it's not now,
35:58but it's not
35:59a reason for me
36:00to be discouraged
36:01because God has a plan.
36:03That's great.
36:04Anton,
36:05come back on the show
36:06when that time comes.
36:07Surprise us
36:08with all the details.
36:10We will celebrate that.
36:13Oh wait, Anton,
36:14before we really let you go,
36:15we have a game
36:16planned for you.
36:18I'm going to read
36:19the mechanics of this game.
36:20It's a surprise.
36:22The title of our game is
36:23Nako Very Apt For You.
36:24Game Ako.
36:26That's what our game is called.
36:27Game Ako.
36:28So you just have to tell us
36:29if you're in this situation
36:30or not,
36:31and explain your answer.
36:33Okay.
36:34Oh, you play chess, right?
36:35You play chess, right?
36:36I do,
36:37but I think the reason
36:38that's coming up
36:39is because I covered
36:40NCAA Chess
36:41and it was the first time
36:42it was ever done.
36:43And I worked with
36:44GM Eugene Torre.
36:46Oh, imagine that,
36:47chess being aired on TV.
36:49I mean,
36:50when we were kids,
36:51we wouldn't have thought,
36:52except for the really big
36:53international match,
36:54chess, right?
36:55But for a collegiate level,
36:56for a collegiate league,
36:57right?
36:58How cool is that?
36:59So this is our question.
37:00Anton,
37:01do you play chess
37:02with the country's
37:03best chess player?
37:04Yeah, game.
37:05Because you've learned
37:06a lot from Eugene Torre,
37:07right?
37:09My dream was
37:10to have a picture
37:11with GM Eugene,
37:12and we actually
37:13joked about this.
37:14He said,
37:15Anton,
37:16when we see each other,
37:17let's take a picture.
37:18And my face
37:19is like this.
37:20It's like he's having a hard time
37:21facing me in chess.
37:23Oh, so you haven't
37:24met each other yet?
37:25I mean,
37:26we see each other in person.
37:27It was all virtual.
37:28It was all virtual
37:29because this was during
37:30the time that
37:31the restrictions were
37:32still there,
37:33and we couldn't see
37:34each other physically.
37:35So we were doing everything.
37:36We were covering
37:37chess online.
37:39Interesting, right?
37:40Yeah, yeah.
37:41But at least,
37:42that was one doable thing
37:43also during pandemic.
37:45Yes.
37:46Okay, how about this, Anton?
37:47Game,
37:48do you want to teach
37:49basketball
37:50in the summer camp
37:51for kids?
37:52It has to be kids, okay?
37:53Less than 10 years old.
37:54Yeah.
37:55I mean,
37:56I've had experience
37:57doing that last year.
37:58My brother,
37:59who was 9 years old
38:00at the time,
38:01I had to be their coach
38:02because they didn't have
38:03a coach.
38:04And it was the first time
38:05he joined a basketball league.
38:06So I just went there
38:07to watch.
38:08Then they said
38:09they didn't have a coach.
38:10So I had to step in
38:11and I actually
38:12had a good time.
38:13Oh, that's so cute.
38:14So even your brother
38:15likes basketball.
38:16Yes, he also likes
38:17basketball.
38:18And he even became
38:19MVP in his very first
38:20basketball league.
38:21Wow.
38:22So I'd like to think
38:23that somehow
38:24my coaching helped.
38:25And you know,
38:26maybe it's something
38:27that I can do
38:28on the side
38:29when I have time.
38:30Hey, congrats
38:31to your brother,
38:32your baby bro.
38:33How many siblings
38:34do you have, Anton?
38:35So I have
38:36four siblings.
38:37Yeah.
38:38So there are five of us.
38:39I'm the eldest.
38:42Wow.
38:43And then next to you,
38:44how many years?
38:45Two years.
38:46So I have a sister
38:47who is two years
38:48younger than me.
38:49So just you
38:50and your youngest brother
38:51who play basketball?
38:52Oh, actually,
38:53my two other brothers,
38:54they play basketball
38:55as well.
38:56But you know,
38:57they also used to be
38:58varsity players,
38:59but they just play
39:00for fun nowadays.
39:01Ah, okay.
39:02So you can coach
39:03for all three of them.
39:04Okay, how about this?
39:07Do you play golf
39:08with the podcast co-hosts,
39:10meaning Martin
39:11and Coach Hammer?
39:12Yeah, I would probably
39:13beat them so bad.
39:15Because I don't think
39:16they play golf.
39:17I was about to ask you
39:18who will beat you.
39:20It's so competitive.
39:23Tell Coach Hammer
39:24that his muscles
39:26are still lacking
39:27in the golf course.
39:29I think they will ban him
39:31from the golf course.
39:32Why?
39:34I'm afraid
39:35the clubs might get banned.
39:38That's funny.
39:39Because I remember
39:40when we first met,
39:41Coach Hammer,
39:42he's very muscular,
39:45but he likes snacks.
39:46Because he always
39:47treats me to snacks.
39:48I remember that.
39:49That's when you remember
39:50about him.
39:51Yes, that's what I remember.
39:52Because you also fooled him.
39:56Oh, this is a hard question.
39:58This is the last one,
39:59but for me,
40:00this is the hardest question.
40:01Do you play no sports talk
40:04with somebody that you like
40:06on a date?
40:07Your dream girl?
40:08Yeah, you know what?
40:09I think, actually,
40:10when I'm with a girl,
40:11I don't want to talk
40:12about sports.
40:13Really?
40:14Yeah, because I talk
40:15about sports every day
40:16at work.
40:17When I'm with somebody,
40:18I just want to get to know
40:19that person.
40:20When I'm with a girl,
40:21I'm allergic to sports
40:22all of a sudden.
40:23Yeah, that's how I am.
40:24Because when I'm with a girl,
40:25I want to get to know
40:26the person in the best
40:27way possible.
40:28That's my mindset
40:29when I'm with somebody.
40:31I do not want to talk
40:32about sports
40:33because I already do that
40:34way too much in my life
40:36to be doing that
40:37when I'm with somebody
40:38that I like.
40:40Yeah, no shop talk
40:41when you're out
40:42on a date, right?
40:43Yes.
40:44Oh, wait.
40:45So does that mean
40:46do you like girls
40:47who are athletic
40:48or you prefer
40:49not to be athletic
40:50so that there's
40:51no sports involved?
40:52I think it's a plus
40:53when a girl is athletic
40:54because that would mean
40:55there would be a lot
40:56of activities
40:57that you guys
40:58can do together.
40:59But I also don't mind
41:00if the girl
41:01is not athletic
41:02as long as we vibe
41:04and we get along
41:06and we see things
41:07in the same way.
41:08We agree on a lot of things
41:10and we are able
41:11to resolve things
41:12also on topics
41:13that we disagree about.
41:15Okay.
41:16And that is our PSA
41:17for all the girls
41:18listening to this podcast.
41:20What Anton likes
41:21and does not like.
41:23Anton, thank you
41:24so, so much
41:25again for joining us.
41:26Why don't you invite
41:27all our listeners
41:28and our viewers
41:29who watch us
41:30on Spotify Video
41:31to catch Game On
41:32and to catch you
41:33with the games
41:34on NCAA.
41:35Yeah.
41:36So aside from
41:37Surprise Guest
41:38with Pia Arcangel
41:39which by the way
41:40is such a great podcast
41:41with more than
41:42100 surprise guests
41:43already on the show.
41:44I can't believe
41:45I am part of that list.
41:46Congratulations Pia.
41:47You really researched.
41:49Yes.
41:50Before I came on here
41:51I saw it and I said
41:52wow, more than
41:53100 guests already.
41:54That's why Game On
41:55is a podcast.
41:57I hope so.
41:58So hopefully one day
41:59we reach 100 guests
42:00but right now
42:01we're still a baby podcast
42:02so to all those
42:03who love sports
42:04or to those
42:05who aren't really
42:06into sports
42:07but are interested
42:08in getting to know
42:09our most popular
42:10and most accomplished
42:11Philippine athletes
42:12do follow
42:13the Game On
42:14podcast.
42:15It's also on YouTube.
42:16You can see
42:17the video version
42:18of the podcast.
42:19It's a lot of fun
42:20and get at me.
42:22Tweet me.
42:23Slide into my DMs
42:24if you want.
42:25Let me know who you want
42:26a guest on the show
42:27and we'll do the best
42:28we can to get those
42:29people on.
42:30Thank you so much Anton
42:31and of course
42:32we'll be seeing you
42:33NCAA Basketball
42:34very soon
42:35for Season 100.
42:36Can you imagine that?
42:37Yes, Season 100.
42:38Thank you so much Anton.
42:39Thank you.
42:40Thank you so much Pia.
42:44This surprise was planned
42:45by the team of
42:46Nikky Del Mundo
42:47and Aubrey de los Reyes
42:48edited by Shirley Paghiligan
42:49with the amazing people
42:50of GMA Integrated News.
42:52Don't forget to like
42:53and subscribe
42:54till the next surprise!