LAS VEGAS — It’s just another hectic day at a gym in the outskirts of Las Vegas, where kids and young adults like were balling their hearts out.
From the bedlam emerged a familiar face in Philippine hoops back in the day.
In case you don’t know, Moody was one a star at Letran back in those glory years when coach-turned-politician Binky Favis guided the program.
Back in the PBA, Moody has a fan.
“One of my best teammates from 1996 to 2001. Bait nyan. Kami magkapalitan sa rotation ng team namin Sobrang athletic yan. Pareho kami taga depensa,” Converge coach Aldin Ayo told Sports On Air NBA editor Homer Sayson.
At the conclusion of his college career, Moody played brieflyfor San Miguel Beer in the PBA (2003) and with the Toyota Otis of the now-defunct PBL in 2004, Moody, his wife, and their child packed their bags and moved to the US in 2011.
Having since relocated to Sin City, the couple has added three more children to their brood, making Moody a very busy family man.
“I work full-time sa Amazon,” he said, while adding that he also has a “sideline” gig refereeing high school and AAU games.
And while he enjoys whistleblowing, he confessed that he misses playing.
“Sobrang na miss ko ang maglaro, na inggit nga ako sa mga kababayan ko na until now naglalaro pa. Pati dito pag may tournament ng mga Pinoy galing sa other states pinipituhan ko.
“They ask me bakit hindi ako naglalaro at ang sagot ko lang sa kanila ay mas pinili ko ang mag referee. Kumita na, naka exercise pa.”
Becoming a certified referee in the state of Nevada requires passing a written exam, going through training sessions and completing on-court assessments.
Moody complied with all that with flying colors.
Moody isn’t just the only former PBA figure pitching his tent in the desert oasis of Nevada. Other familiar names include Ato Morano, Gilbert Demape and former coach Rino Salazar.
It’s a happy bunch of Pinoys coming together and united by their shared passion for basketball.
