SULONG Zambales caused quite a stir even before the 2025 Smart-NBTC North Luzon Regional Championships began in Nueva Ecija for the name of one of its players.
Much to the disbelief - and partly, amusement - of many, the Olongapo champions enlisted one kid named Adolf Hitler Dorde to its lineup, eliciting reactions from basketball fans all over.
Aware of the sudden notoriety he got, the 16-year-old Dorde knew that he really couldn’t do anything but laugh it off.
“Tumawa lang po ako,” he told SPIN.ph, saying that this really is nothing new for him.
“Puro ganoon lang naman po 'pag naririnig nila yung pangalan ko, so hinahayaan ko lang.”
But really, why in the world is a kid named after the ruthless dictator of Nazi Germany?
Well, charge it to his parents who didn’t know better and thought it was funny to go on and christen him after the moniker called by many on his grandfather – which was the name of the Führer of the Third Reich.
“Pinangalan po ako sa lolo ko kasi yun daw ang tawag sa kanya dati. 'Hitler' yung tawag sa kanya,” he shared.
His lolo’s real name? “Benjamin po,” the young Dorde said.
Asked why that is the case, Ado, as he is called by his peers, shared that he really has no idea why, stating, “Bad boy po siya siguro dati.”
This Adolf Hitler's a good guy
Dorde, who studies at Botolan National High School in Zambales, made it clear that he’s the total opposite of the man he’s named after.
“Kabaligtaran po talaga,” he pleaded with a sly smile.
His coach Eugene Ditapat also corroborated the claims.
“Isa sa mabait na player ko yan si Ado. Kabaligtaran talaga siya ng name niya kasi si Adolf Hitler, alam natin leader ng Nazi, pero hindi niya katulad si Ado kasi isa siya sa mga pinakamabait na player ko dito at lagi siyang nakikinig,” he said.
“Kung kami-kami lang ang magkakasama, palabiro din siya, pero kung nasa court na, seryoso siya at kung ano yung instructions, sinusunod niya. Kahit bata siya, pinapakita niya yung disiplina sa loob ng court.”
Though Dorde became trending for his name, Ditapat hopes that people get to know the player more for his game.
“Buo ang loob niya eh,” the coach said of the 6-foot forward. “Kahit yung body figure niya is hindi ganoon kalaki, hindi siya basta-basta natutulak sa loob kaya isa siya sa rotation players ko. Kaya gusto ko lang siyang makilala siya sa puso niya sa laro, yung mentality niya as a player, at yung ugali ng tunay na Ado na iba talaga sa pangalan niya.”
And what a way for him to do such.
In Sulong Zambales’ lone game in the main court at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Gymnatorium, Dorde stepped up for his side and churned out 10 points and five rebounds off the bench, as fans intently watched him from the livestream.
Unfortunately, DPR Aviation College got the victory, 96-83, and eliminated the Olongapo representatives.
Nevertheless, Dorde was just appreciative of the opportunity to be on this stage.
“Malaking chance po ito para sa amin kasi first time lang kami nakakuha ng ganitong experience,” he said, hopeful that he and the rest of the team gave a good account of themselves in this foray.
With everything said and done, there’s just one burning question left to be asked to Adolf Hitler Dorde: what is his favorite subject in school?
Laughing, the soft-spoken forward said, “Religion po.”
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