Make every play count: lessons that you can learn from basketball

Win in life the way a player slays on the court.

It’s not an understatement to say basketball is a huge deal for most people, especially Filipinos. Pinoys idolize its larger-than-life superstars. The Philippines did not win the Basketball World Cup Most Valuable Fan (MVF) Best Country Award for nothing.

It’s easy to associate certain aspects of basketball to everyday life, like planning for the future and simply knowing you can achieve your goals when you put your mind to it. These values are just some of the common principles that AXA Philippines, which has been the league’s Official Insurance Partner in the Philippines since 2017, has in common with the National Basketball Association. The global insurance provider also shares NBA’s commitment to innovation and joins them in creating fresh and exciting experience for passionate fans.

AXA empowers you to create a game plan for your life. Much like in basketball, where there are plays to follow and strategies to keep in mind in order to rack points, figuring out your game plan—whether for the short- or long-term—is essential to help you move forward in life. Craft your game plan just like how your favorite players approach every basketball game with some of these on-court lessons that you can apply to your daily life.

Taking a shot
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, as the Wayne Gretzky quote goes—and by shots, we mean opportunities. A shooting guard who stops shooting after missing his first five shots may see his impact on the team drastically reduced. Not everyone makes it on the first try, with some taking a while before figuring things out, but it’s essential to not give up and keep on trying. It may be a matter of changing your approach or getting the right timing.

Rebounding from failure
It could get disheartening for shooters to witness the  ball bounce off the rim after every attempt. However, they should not let that stop them from following up their shot and try to get the offensive rebound. Success is built on failure, and, sometimes, it’s up to you to create that second chance and bounce back from previous mistakes.

Getting assistance when you need it
Just like basketball, life is a team sport. Knowing when you need help and asking for it is crucial for you to be able to shoot your shot and reach your goal. Life tends to be easier when there’s someone you can lean on when the going gets tough.

Blocking out negativity
Listening to constructive criticism is one thing, but getting affected by negative forces is another. In basketball, the objective is both to score more points than the opposing team and prevent the latter from making field goals. The same applies to practical situations; not letting negative events affect you gives you a better chance of winning at life.

Making the smart play
Basketball players only have a split second to make the right decision on the court: take the game-winning shot themselves or find the open man for a higher-percentage field goal. In real-life settings, you’ll know how to make the right decision if you have the proper game plan.

AXA Philippines is the Official Insurance Partner of NBA in the Philippines. Visit axa.com.ph/nba for more details.