When I think back on nearly two decades of my being a teacher and coach, I am reminded of countless classrooms, chapels, and courts. In the halls of Xavier School and Ateneo de Manila, where I served as faculty and administrator, I often found that some of the most powerful formative moments for young people did not happen in a classroom. They happened on the hardwood floor of a gym, under the hot sun of a football field, or in the tension-filled moments of a championship game.
Sports, in my experience, has always been more than just a game. It’s a space where lessons come alive, character is tested, values are sharpened, and growth happens in real time. This ties it quite deeply with Jesuit education, which emphasizes cura personalis, or the care for the whole person. And if we truly believe in forming the whole person, then sports is not a distraction from education or formation. Sports is education. Sports is formation.
Championships and Classroom Lessons
As a high school teacher, I saw this dynamic up close. Whether guiding students in the Campus Ministry & Service Office, teaching English literature, or serving as part of the leadership team, I found that sports was a common thread that united students across differences. I had the privilege of helping coach my classes during intramural games and sportsfests. Trust me when I say that nothing animated the students quite like chasing a championship together, whether in basketball, tug-of-war, or, much later, e-sports.
In those tournaments, young people discovered what textbooks may at times struggle to convey: a common mission, resilience, teamwork, humility in victory, and grace in defeat. These were not abstract ideas to be memorized, they were lived realities and teachable moments, reinforced with every win and every loss. Students learned to trust one another, to sacrifice personal glory for the team, and to find meaning in shared struggle. Sports gave them ownership of their learning, with instant feedback that other types of ‘tests’ found hard to match.
From Ateneo to Batang Gilas
Later, I had the privilege of helping coach Ateneo de Manila’s high school basketball program, where we won championships in multiple tournaments. The glory of raising trophies and celebrating victories was unforgettable, but what stayed with me even more were the conversations in locker rooms, the quiet moments after a tough loss, and the gradual transformation of boys into young men who understood (some sooner, others later—we all learn at our own pace, after all) what it meant to carry themselves with dignity.
The lessons deepened when I joined Batang Gilas, the Philippine national youth basketball team. There, I witnessed young Filipinos—barely in their teens—competing on the international stage. We celebrated SEABA championships and earned coveted spots in the FIBA Youth World Cups (U17 & U19). For these players, basketball was more than a pastime. It was a passport. Sports opened doors to new countries, prestigious schools, global opportunities, and a brighter future.
But even for those who did not go on to play professionally, the value of the experience remained. The discipline of waking up for early morning practices, the responsibility of balancing schoolwork with national duty, the humility of representing something larger than themselves were all formative lessons that shaped them long after the final buzzer.
Ignatius and the Playing Field of Life
The journey of St. Ignatius of Loyola offers a powerful metaphor for why sports matters. Ignatius, of course, was once a soldier whose youthful dreams centered on glory and valor. His life changed forever when a cannonball shattered his leg. Forced into a long and painful recovery, he began reflecting on the competing desires stirring in his heart: the shallow satisfaction of worldly honor and the deeper joy of serving Christ.
This discernment—testing desires, reflecting on ‘finding God in all things’—became the foundation of Ignatian spirituality. In a way, sports offers the young a similar training ground.
Each game is a moment of discernment: Will I play for myself or for the team? Will I quit when I fail, or will I learn and grow? Will I measure myself only by wins and losses, or by how I become a better person through the struggle?
In a more literal but no less meaningful way, like Ignatius, young people encounter their own ‘cannonball moments’ in sports. They experience injuries, setbacks, or defeats that shake them. And like Ignatius, they are invited to use these moments not as dead-ends, but as openings to transformation. Sports, when framed in the light of Ignatian spirituality, can become more than a physical contest. It can become a rehearsal in discernment, resilience, and living for a greater purpose.
The Broader Influence of Sports
My journey eventually led me to roles as a sportscaster for ABS-CBN Sports, a sports editor for several media outfits, and later as a media officer for FIBA. In these capacities, I saw sports from a broader perspective. Beyond individual players and teams, I saw how sports personas and events influence the values, behaviors, and actions of young people everywhere.
A highlight reel dunk or a gutsy three-pointer at the buzzer may seem like fleeting entertainment, but for young viewers, these moments often spark imitation and aspiration. They learn the language of persistence from watching their idols refuse to quit. They pick up the virtue of composure by seeing athletes handle pressure with calm. They learn about solidarity when they witness entire teams lifting one another after a fall. They see how an athlete can represent and carry the dreams not just of a class, school, or even city, but an entire country.
This influence is not without its pitfalls, of course. As we have seen many times, sports heroes can falter, and toxic competitiveness can creep in. Therein, however, lies the opportunity for formators, parents, and mentors. Sports provides a unique cultural touchpoint where conversations about values and choices can happen naturally.
Growth Beyond the Physical
One of the most beautiful truths I have come to embrace is that sports forms young people not only physically, but also socially, emotionally, and yes, even academically.
Socially, sports teaches inclusion. Even the star player depends on teammates, and every player, even the ‘benchwarmer,’ matters. This interdependence fosters a sense of belonging and community.
Emotionally, sports offers a safe space to deal with joy, frustration, fear, and disappointment. Young athletes learn to manage their emotions, to stay grounded, and to develop resilience.
Academically, sports can sharpen discipline and focus. The same skills that help an athlete study game film and memorize team plays can help a student manage time and approach problem-solving with rigor. Of course, there’s something to be said about finding that sweet spot as a well-rounded student-athlete.
Jesuit education has always emphasized the integration of mind, body, and spirit. ‘Mens sana in corpore sano,’ yes? Sports embodies that integration in ways that are concrete, memorable, and transformative.
Sports as Spiritual Formation
Perhaps the most profound aspect of sports is its capacity to shape the spirit. In sports, young people encounter mystery, wonder, and even transcendence. The silence before a free throw, the shared heartbeat of a crowd, the vulnerability of laying everything on the line, the moment you win that first championship for your class or country—these moments open space for grace.
For me, sports echoes the Ignatian principle of finding God in all things. A championship is not just a trophy; it is a testament to hard work and faith. A defeat is not just a setback; it is an invitation to humility and deeper growth. Sports becomes a training ground for discernment, where young people learn to reflect, to choose well, and to see the greater meaning behind their actions.
Forming Men and Women for Others
At the heart of Jesuit formation is the mission to form men and women for others. Sports, when harnessed with intention and executed with balance, is such a powerful tool for that mission. It can teach young people to think beyond themselves, to commit to something larger, and to serve both teammates and community.
When I look back at my students, players, and colleagues, I see a lot of young people who have carried the lessons of sports into leadership, service, and faith. Some are now professionals, others are parents, and some are still chasing their dreams. But all of them, I hope, have discovered that the lessons they learned on the court or field were never just about winning games. They were about winning in life.
The Call to Accompany
As I reflect on all these experiences and memories, I am reminded that, as formators, coaches, and mentors, our task is to accompany the young in these spaces. Sports by itself is not magic. Left unchecked and taken to unhealthy extremes, it can foster missed priorities, pride, selfishness, or burnout. That said, when guided with care, intention, and nuance, sports can become a crucible of genuinely meaningful formation.
In Jesuit schools and beyond, let us continue to see sports not as extracurricular, but as co-curricular—integral to the holistic growth of our students. Let us use sports to cultivate not only athletes, but whole persons: resilient in mind, compassionate in heart, and generous in spirit.
Because in the end, sports is not just about the game, the final score, or the color of your medal. It is about life. And for the young, sports can be about becoming the best versions of themselves—men and women for others, for the greater glory of God.
Enzo Flojo is Communications & Media Officer for FIBA, an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints.com, and an Academic Consultant at Enderun Colleges. A proud Ateneo alumnus, he has also served as Assistant Coach for the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Gilas Youth basketball teams as well as Instructional Design Manager at Accenture. His passion lies in helping young people and organizations grow without sacrificing well-being, believing that true success is rooted in both excellence and compassion.