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WerePlayingBasketball
ByPaulinaPestryakov
Cristino Perez looks at
his son admiringly
as his son dribbles
across the basketballcourt at a west end
community Centre.
The proud father cannot
help but smile at his sons tri-
umph. Over the years, Perez
has watched his sons basket-
ball-playing ourish from a
hobby to a potential career.
His son, Chris Perez is 12
years old. The young basket-
ball player has a bright future
ahead of him. One can clearly
see that when stepping into
their Rexdale home and taking
a glimpse of the set up of gold-
en trophies accompanied with
medals and ribbons received
at various basketball tourna-
ments and competitions.
My son has been playing
basketball since he could barely
walk, says Perez proudly of
his son. I gave him a basketball
and he just couldnt stop playing
with it.His father is not the only one
who has seen his raw talent. His
closest cousin, Allen Pena also
sees the talent and perseverance
of the already ve foot three boy.
My cousin is forever playing
basketball, says Pena, a college
student in Scarborough. We
dont see each other often, but
when we do, its all about bas-
ketball. He eats, breathes, and
dreams basketball. He will de-
nitely get scouted one day.
In fact, the young Chris is so
passionate about basketball; he
found a league last year wherehe attends practices weekly.
His
most recent game was far from
home in Oakville, and even with-
out transportation, Chris and his
father made sure to attend the
tournament.
There
is no way I would miss a bas-
ketball game, exclaimed Chris
enthusiastically. I dont care ifits a game against my friends
at
school or a game against anoth-
er league; I want to take all the
opportunities Ive got to show
that I can do this and I am good
at this.
In fact, not only is he talent-
ed, he inspired his father to start
his own basketball team. But
this is not an ordinary team; the
team is specically for Dominican
youth and young men in Toronto.
My son motivated me to start
this team, Perez explains. But I
did not want to organize a team
that has your typical group ofyoung men; theres enough of
those in Toronto. I wanted to
make a team that would honor by
Dominican culture. I have seen
nothing in Toronto that properly
represents my country.
The Dominican coach orga-
nized the team this summer.
Youth and young men ages 18-
30 participate in the basketball
team every week. The group
meets every Sunday at the Car-
mine Stefano Community Cen-
tre located at Weston Rd and
Sheppard Ave West, meeting
every week in the summer and
once a month during slower
seasons. Currently, there are
approximately 20 men on the
team.
But there is a bigger mean-
ing rooted behind the idea of a
basketball team, besides the fact
that the mens Dominican heri-
tage is an important factor.Since our players are so de-
voted to the team, they not only
get to show that they are proud
to be Dominican, but they get to
connect with others at a cultural
level, and deal with their strug-
gles with each other, says Perez.
It keeps the men off the streets
and teaches them about com-
mitment, something that is hard
for some men to do these days,
unfortunately.
ABOVE: Allen Pena, a member of Perezs basketball team BOTTOM:
Pena practicing in a basketball court atSt. Maria Goretti Catholic
School in Scarborough, where has been practicing his technique
since attending theschool in his childhood.
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