Regina man signed to Filipino professional basketball team

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It's another dream come true for Chris Lafontaine of Regina. Lafontaine has been named to the Negros Slashers, a pro basketball team with the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) in the Philippines. The opportunity to play pro ball came just as the accomplished 21-year-old was finishing a two-year commitment as a missionary in the Philippines.

"I credit it all to my parents," said the soft-spoken Lafontaine, whose father is Cree-Saulteaux from Lestock whose mother is from the Tongan Islands in Polynesia. "They brought me up and taught me how to work, accomplish things and set goals. It's comforting to know I have 100 per cent family support."

Much of his strength also comes from his involvement as a Mormon with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Lafontaine. As part of his religious training, he worked at the Quezon City mission in metropolitan Manila. The daily routine consisted of early morning religious study followed by teaching the gospel or helping with service projects such as building houses or cleaning out sewers. During his one-day-a-week holiday he shot hoops for recreation and the fun of it.

"I've always had a dream just to play basketball," said Lafontaine, who has completed two years toward an education degree at the University of Regina. "It's a great opportunity to play in this league. I'm not looking too far in the future - I'm going to take it step by step."

The Negros Slashers, based in Balcolod City, spotted the six-foot-six, 230-pound Canadian on the court and tried him out as a centre for a few games last season. Now, they're in the process of signing him as a rookie shooting guard or power forward for this year's season that begins in early February.

The tropical nation of the Philippines and its 65 million residents are fanatical about basketball. It's the national sport: one league, called the Philippine Basketball Association, has about 15 teams. Established in 1993, the MBA boasts almost 20 teams and allows a few non-nationals per team.

It will be a gruelling eight- month schedule, said Lafontaine. There's two or three games weekly, and practices morning and night. Teams vie for a spot in the north versus south finals and then the league championship. Exhibition games are also held in Japan and elsewhere in the region.

Games are routinely played in front of packed houses of 3,000 screaming fans. On the Negros Slasher website, organized professional sports are described as an "organized form of surrogate warfare between modern cities, a vestigial remnant of the actual warfare between ancient city-states that established the dominance of one region over another."

"It's their national sport. They love basketball - it's nothing like I've seen before. They're really fanatical, it's a pride thing."

His all-around style of play fits in just right.

"I can play down and low just because I have the body type. I like to dribble. I can shoot and I have an outside game as well."

Incredibly, it's only the second year that Lafontaine has played organized basketball. Most of his experience is playing street ball. While attending Thom Collegiate in Regina - and after shooting up a foot in height - he played during his senior year. While studying at the University of Regina he opted not to play, even though the Regina Cougars coach has expressed an interest in him playing for the team.

He also played football during his senior high school year. When there's a spare moment, he enjoys rugby, tennis and any other sport that might be offered. Lafontaine and his three brothers and sister all have black belts in tae-kwon-do from the International Tae-kwon-do Federation of Canada. Their certificates are all proudly displayed at the entrance to the family home in Argyle Park.

Lafontaine was back in Regina visiting family and friends for the Christmas holidays. When home, he gets in a few gigs as lead singer with the 5th Generation, a music group consisting of his brothers and sister. The wel-known group has been performing around Saskatchewan and elsewhere since 1985.

"I commute. I get in as much as I can," said Lafontaine, who rejoins the group during his visits to Saskatchewan.

The 5th Generation has adjusted, said Lafontaine, even though he and another brother have been away doing mission work. The 5th Generation makes a point of reflecting their First Nation and Polynesian heritages during their performances of their "message music." His sister does powwow as well as hula dancing. All of the brothers, including Chris, play drums.

Lafontaine plans to play basketball for six months a year and return to Saskatchewan during the other half so he can maintain contact with family and friends and work on his commitments to church and university. In the meantime, his biggest worry seems to be getting used to having to carry around a kitbag full of different pairs of basketball sneakers.

"There's eight pairs of sneakers - one for practice, one for games, one for running . . . ."