On a fine summer day, while watching a pre-season game with new players donning college jerseys, basketball fans will certainly ask the inevitable questions: who are those new players on the bench? Or maybe, am I looking at possibly the next Samboy Lim?
Former Lyceum Pirates Jeremiah Taladua and CP Pamulaklakin have earned their way to a new home in Intramuros. This time, it’s with the Letran Knights.
FATED FOR BASKETBALL
See it in the way he talks about the game, Jeremiah Taladua is unsurprisingly the new kid to look out for this season.
In fact, a seven-year-old Taladua was already aware of how basketball is destined for him. He started to play in interschool competitions back in Cavite where he also participated in the Southern Tagalog CALABARZON Athletics Association (STCAA).
And in 2012, the 17-year old shooting guard seemed to be unaware, that a simple open tryout invitation in Lyceum will entirely change the course of his basketball journey.
But after representing LPU for three years, the Cavite-based dribbler felt a sudden change of heart to a new pursuit in his career. In 2015, Taladua took a big leap and started his new venture in Letran.
“Na-feel ko lang na mas madami pa akong dapat matutunan at naisip ko na Letran ‘yung makakapagbigay sa’kin no’n at mapapakita kung ano pa talaga yung mga kaya kong gawin sa pag ba-basketball,” said Taladua who is contended and unapologetic with his shift.
However it's not all about rainbows and cloud nine --Taladua hustled to cope with a new environment, new training schedules and routines -- far from what he was used to as a Pirate.
But he admits his new teammates helped him to adjust to these changes.
“Yung mga dating kalaban mo sa game, kakampi mo na ngayon,” he gushed. “Hindi naman ako nahirapan mag-cope up sa mga teammates ko kasi di naman nila ako tinuring na iba noong una pa lang.”
With two years of ferocious training, Taladua can finally wear his Letran jersey with dignity and pride in the upcoming NCAA season 93.
DEDYING ODDS
Unlike Taladua who is blatant enough for his love for basketball, Christian Paul Pamulaklakin seems reserved and shy to express his love for the sport. Back in Malabon, CP is not the basketball-driven kind of pal -- not until a coach approached him and persuaded him of his own potential.
Both new and thrilling for a late bloomer, Pamulaklakin gave it a shot and hoped for the best. The 6-foot-6 power forward went to Informatics International University where he played at the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) with now Arellano University alumnus, Jio Jalalon.
Soon enough, Pamulaklakin ventured his own way to the NCAA in Lyceum. And now, in Letran.
When asked regarding his shift, he frankly answered, “Good decision din kasi mas nabigyan kase ako ng break sa Letran, pinahalagahan ako ng Letran.”
Besides his role as an athlete, Christian does not forget his duties as a student. Though it’s really hard to live the student-athlete life, he truthfully confessed that all athletes must come up with another plan if anything goes wrong.
“Actually mahirap kasi pagkatapos ng ensayo papasok ka naman, lalo sa Letran kailangan talaga pumapasok. Pero kailangan mo i-overcome ‘yung gano’n kasi in the future talaga ka-kailanganin mo din siya,” he said. “Kailangan lang mag tiyaga at mag pursige.”
While these two have an entire life ahead of them, maybe our assumptions of the next Samboy Lim should be put to rest, as these two will make names of their own.
Watch out.