Ted James - Memoriam

The Cleveland Cavaliers have Lebron James. King James. We, the ADB Basketball Club – East Team, have William "Ted" James. We are the James Gang.

I met Ted when I played with Team Kainan of the ADB Basketball Club in 2008. My first impression of him was he was obviously the oldest in the team but sure he can run.

It was like Los Angeles Lakers for Ted vs. Tom's Boston Celtics of the 60's. Combined with the young Cleveland Cavaliers of this decade, you have the East Team. Our team.

It was in 2009, that we, the whole East Team became closer with one another. We lost our very first game in the 1st Conference. Ted was instrumental in making our team a winning team. It was his idea to have a team building and discuss what we really want to achieve for this team.

After that team bonding, we never looked back to our first loss. We scored 9 wins and zero losses and eventually won the Championship.

Ted showed his dedication to our team by even coming to practice on Wednesday evenings or sometimes asking us to come to their house for shooting practices.

Ted never failed to encourage our team to go out and win our games. He would still answer our emails even when he was in the hospital. He even sent a picture while he was inside that hyperbaric chamber. He would send me text messages before the games and he would ask me for updates afterwards.

Ted may not always have a lot of playing time on court but when he does he makes sure that his defensive assignment is done. Ted was a tough and physical player but never dirty. He would go real hard on our opponent but outside the court, Ted would still greet them and encourage them to play often.

This year's initial basketball conference ended last week with our team playing again in a championship game. We missed Ted in that game. Actually, we missed Ted in all the 8 games we played this conference.

We lost the championship game by 3 points.

After giving it some thought, the games we lost were not our biggest loss. It was Ted. East Team lost our Godfather, a good friend.

BUT there is a great lesson we can all see from Ted's life:

We definitely will not win all battles in life, but what is important is that we should give it all our best in everything, most especially in the things that we hold dear: family, friends and faith.

Ted loved his family so much. He inspired us to share the same virtue.

Ted showed us how a true friend should be. We all can attest to his generosity and the gift of friendship he gave us.

And faith, Ted is a man of God. In simple things, he brightly showed the countenance of a Godly man.

As his teammate, his friend, we will work tirelessly to do our best in these facets of our lives... because it will keep Ted's legacy alive in us.

(Note: East Team to give the East Team banner to Tess, Tara and Dave)

Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.
~Richard Bach


Eulogy delivered at the Memorial for Ted James
25 May 2010, 7:30 pm
Sanctuario de San Antonio Church (Capilla de San Francisco)
Mckinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City