The following article appeared Friday, February 29 in the Antelope Valley Press:

LANCASTER - Sitting with eager eyes and an open heart on the floor of his home in General Santos City, Philippines, Pistol Pete met little Jonathan Douglas Sisson.
The two had a lot in common.

Sisson felt similar to how Pete Maravich was portrayed at a young age in his autobiographical film Pistol: The Birth of a Legend.

"You know I'm small, and he was an outcast on the team and they made fun of him …he just determined that he was going to work harder than anybody else," Sisson said. "That fact that he was small but yet he still worked hard and knew that if he worked hard that he could be better, that's what I loved about him."

After that meeting, Sisson would never be the same, and that small frame wouldn't grow much more, but his heart and passion for the game shot to the sky.

And those same moves of Pistol Pete that he began to practice religiously, still remain the roots and the very similar style that the West Coast Baptist College senior guard functions on today.

From American to Filipino

Born and raised in Oklahoma City until the age of nine, athletics have been a part of Sisson's life since he was only weeks old. Cradled in the arms of his father Douglas, their surroundings were regularly that of a football field or basketball court.

It was a perfect match.

Growing up with a strong athletic influence, Sisson was either on the sideline cheering for his dad while he coached high school football or courtside when his dad coached college basketball.

"Jonathan knew all the statistics of all the players and all the games," mother Becky Sisson said. "He loved watching his dad's games."

Hyped up about his new found love, Sisson only grew more excited of the future endeavors he would have on the hard wood floors of different school gymnasiums.

Little did he know that future would be altered to one he hadn't imagined, but one he would never change if he had the chance.

"(Jon) didn't get the opportunity to play in junior high or high school, (all four years)" father Douglas said. "I remember when we were getting ready to come to the Philippines when he was in fourth grade saying, 'Dad I can't wait to get in junior high,' Why I said, 'so I can ride the bus to the games'…I almost wept cause I knew there weren't going to be any games."

But there were games, just not ones with the bus or the regular well shined wood floors.

Instead, these games were a game with the same principle, but a very different way of making it all happen.

With the news of a new life awaiting him in the Philippines, Sisson partnered with his parents 100% in their decision take Jon and his three siblings and move across the Atlantic Ocean to become full-time missionaries and fulfill their spiritual calling to God.

"It was hard leaving friends and leaving sports, especially going to a good school," Sisson said. "That was the hardest thing for me to leave, but God was good."

Leaving school and sports behind, Sisson's education now consisted of home schooling from his mother, and for his athletic eduucation he played in a few pick up games and some organized leagues for about a year.

Then a pistol was fired.

A pistol named Pete, and with it came inspiration and a transformed boy.

Spending hours watching and practicing the moves of one the greatest NBA guards of all-time, all of the sudden nothing seemed too big to conquer for Sisson.

Especially the fact that he was small.

Playing on outside courts made of uneven concrete and sometimes dirt, fundamentals, technique and just simply getting better were the only things on Sisson's mind. Even with his new surroundings, Sisson stayed focused and his determination paid off.

Late nights in the back yard shooting at the goal (rim/basket) with his dad rebounding, park pickup games played with wooden backboards and a home made goal with no net, slippers in place of shoes, all were just part of another day playing for the love of the game.

"I look back and I have a dad that loved me and cared for me," Sisson said proudly. "He would lay aside anything for me to come shoot around with me."

Taking his street ball and hard work ethic to the organized basketball realm, Sisson began to play in city leagues with kids his age.

Word got around the city about a quick and talented "white boy" and eventually teams came knocking at his door to play for them.

For older teenage boys and men in their twenties, companies around the city would sponsor a team to play in a league and compete with other talented players. It was here that Sisson became know as the "Import."

Standing out not only because of the color of his skin in a foreign land, Sisson was known for his ability move quickly up and down the court.

Always a major competitor with a mentality of win and win only, Sisson was more than often the catalyst of his team carrying the load when the game was on the line.

Whether it be the needed assist, a big defensive steal, or last second three pointer to win the game, Sisson had built the character for a leader at a young age.

The Return

Heading back to his hometown of Oklahoma City for 10 months of his life during his sophomore year of high school, Sisson got a taste of what it was like to finally ride that bus and play that American basketball he had always dreamed of.

Home for a period of time while his parents were on furlough to raise funds for the ministry, Sisson was now a Filipino playing on U.S. soil.

Not because of his citizenship, but because of his style of play. Jon spent the year playing varsity for the high school as the only non-senior in the starting five.

It was in these 10 months that Sisson would become more attached to basketball and develop more of a hardcore love for the game

Home Again

Heading back to the Philippines for the remainder of his high school career Sisson continued to develop his skills on the court and fine-tuned his ability to play at a level that was worthy of the nickname "Import."

Striving to excel in his academics and always better his game any chance he got, a new opportunity shown on the horizon.

An interest of college in the states was developed through a friendship of Sisson's father with those involved with Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College.

Making a trip to the campus about six months prior to making the transition to college, Sisson quickly realized this is where he felt God wanted him to be and it was where he wanted to be. It also helped that WCBC had a growing basketball program and Sisson always had the dream to play in college.

From Eaglet to Soaring Eagle

Arriving on campus looking just like any other incoming freshman, this particular student was very different.

Humble and reserved with a very boyish kind of look and demeanor, it wouldn't take long for the student body and faculty of WCBC to recognize the other personality that was so strongly instilled in Sisson - his game time personality.

"On the court he is a fiery competitor who wants to win the game," WCBC coach Curt Beeson said about his senior guard. "You are going to notice him because he is there all the time going tooth and nail."

It couldn't have been said any better as this small 5-foot-7, 150-pound young man puts on a show each time he takes the court.

Although not the flashy type of show, Sisson is a leader and very unselfish. His performance is more important for WCBC's situation. He does more than a "me" guy would.

Coming into the program four years ago small in stature but big in the areas coach Beeson liked to have in his program, Sisson found himself quickly as a part of the team, but not so quick in seeing playing time.

With a group of solid seniors at the helm of the program since its birth, Sisson took a back seat to watch an experienced and mature group of players lead WCBC to conference title, a conference tournament win and a trip to nationals.

Instead of sulking that he wasn't in the limelight Sisson made the most of his time with the senior laden group learning at every opportunity he had, especially from then senior guard Jesse Ruhl.

After a year full of success but not much court time, Sisson's role quickly changed as he was forced to make the jump to team leader and starting guard as only a sophomore with the graduation of eight seniors.

"There were definitely some ups and downs," Sisson said about his sophomore year and leadership role. "I really wasn't ready for it and I wanted to be, but as far as maturity wise I wasn't ready at all…but I just tried to do my best and learn as I went."

A humble approach for a youngster that really had no collegiate experience and led his squad to a .500 finish in the Pacific Christian Athletic Association.

And through it all he still was named all-league that year and more importantly developed into the type of role coach Beeson needed Sisson to take for the team to become successful.

It worked.

His junior year the team finished 7-3 in the PCAC in a tie for first, and in his senior campaign he has led the Eagles to a solid 7-1 PCAC record and a 10-3 record in the team's last 13 games.

On top of that Sisson was an All-American his junior year with a solid performance at the ACCA nationals and is on his way for a second-straight honor after a career year in his last season as an Eagle.

"(Jon) has played better this year than ever before. As far as the complete game so far this year he has done a lot. Handled the ball. The leading assist man," Beeson said, "he is clearly our best player but he gets everybody involved in the game and doesn't try to be "the" player. (Jon) is content to score seven or eight if that's what has to happen that night."

Even with a small size disadvantage Sisson still gets the job done when it counts, and he won't boast about any big game performance, but several buzzer beaters or solid game ending defensive plays that lead the team to victory prove this man a big competitor.

"In his mind and in his heart I don't think it's a problem," Beeson said about Sisson's size. "He is quick and quick makes up for small. He doesn't view himself as being to small to play so he's not.

"A lot of this game is confidence and heart. He just goes out and plays and says you're a guard and I'm a guard…lets go at it."

Basketball has become a way of life for Sisson, although with all the attention and extra effort focused towards it, it still isn't the center of his life. Keeping his faith number one and everything else secondary, the Eagles guard has still managed to throw together a career not many are able to achieve at any level of collegiate or even high school basketball.

Even when the world questioned him he pushed on and he succeeded. And after graduation in the upcoming months he still plans to succeed in any path that God leads him in, and he goes at it with the same tenacity and passion he has tackled life and basketball up to now.

In the dialect spoken in southern part of the Philippines in General Santos City, Cebuano - Gamay perro daku puso.

Small, but with big heart - Jon Sisson.

 

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