My Favorite Collectibles: Gama’s Top 5

For Gamaliel ‘Gama’ Clamor, a category manager at Toki (the Philippines’s first dedicated platform for collectors and collectibles) and a huge Boston Celtics fan, collecting basketball cards is a way to connect with his favorite players and keep a piece of them with him.

While he started building his collection with a few Marcus Smart jerseys and autographed cards in 2017, his interest and passion had begun way before that: “I remember riding a jeepney when I was in grade school, and there were two guys in front of me opening packs of cards. They went on to give me the base cards from those Fleer Ultra packs, and I’ve kept them ever since.”

For Gama, collecting is about “what you like and what makes you happy”. Some day, when his budget permits it, his dream is to own a triple autograph of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen – the big 3 from the Celtics’ 2008 title run. It’s no surprise then that Gama’s Top 5 favorite collectibles from his personal collection are all basketball cards that he has patiently and lovingly collected over the years, and reflects his long-time dedication to the Celtics.

1. Gold Standard Rookie Patch Autograph Jaylen Brown/25

(2016-17)

“Jaylen Brown is my favorite player, and it has always been my goal to own one of his rookie patch autographs. Unfortunately, he did not sign a lot during his rookie season, which is why you don’t see much of his RPAs in the market. Someday, I hope to get my hands on his National Treasures RPA, which is a collector’s item and arguably the grail for most collectors!”

2.  Cornerstones Rookie Patch Autograph Jayson Tatum/49

(2017-18)

“Cornerstones are quite popular among collectors, especially back when the cards were signed on-cards (nowadays, Cornerstones have sticker autographs, meaning the cards were not actually held by the player). I snagged this card during his rookie year and held it ever since. I believe that he will be one of the league’s faces in the near future.”

3. Select Autograph Tie-Dye Isaiah Thomas/25 (2016-17)

“This card was a gift from a guy who is a huge Isaiah Thomas fan, just like me. I treasure this card not just because it was a gift, but more importantly, because I knew how tough it was to let part of his collection go. He helped me grow my collection and also aided me in finding my way to Toki.”

4. Immaculate Dual Autographs Paul Pierce/Antoine Walker/49 (2018-19)

“A previous customer of mine randomly asked for my address and sent me this card for my basketball card collection. It was totally unexpected! I’ve been looking for this card for the longest time, ever since I started following the NBA during the Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker era in Boston.”

5. Opulence Autograph Memorabilia Larry Bird / 49 BGS 9.5

(2019-20)

“It is really tough to get a high grade with thick cards, which is why when I got this card in a trade, it instantly became one of my favorites. Add to the fact that the card has both the autograph and jersey of one of the best to ever play the game – it’s a no-brainer that this card is a keeper!”

Building a collection is not easy. Gama believes that it’s important to do the due diligence – meaning to ask around the community and study the market first before buying anything, and most importantly, to spend within your budget, something that he is keen to recreate at TOKI.