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THE De
La Salle Green Archers are in deep preparations for the
coming University Athletic Association of the
Philippines (UAAP) wars, and they’re in the familiar
position of opening the campaign as the defending
champions.
And in between games and practices, the
players are modeling their new game jerseys courtesy of
adidas in a photo shoot at the Sportskamp at Bonifacio
Global City in Taguig.
Marko Batricevic is a bundle of energy,
not to mention some nerves. He arrived in the
Philippines from his hometown of Vrbas in Serbia five
years ago after an invitation to study and play
basketball in the Philippines. He sat out a year for his
residency and another to an unfortunate anterior
cruciate ligament injury that saw him undergo two knee
operations (the other was to clean the scar tissues).
“I’m hoping that good things come to me as I wait,” he
quips as he walks in and out of the gym. “Now I have to
work hard to get that playing time.”
He remembers the day of the injury very
well. It was in the last minute of the fourth quarter of
the semifinals game in the Nike Summer League on June 6,
2007. That day in history saw the Allies invade
France
to free Europe from German occupation some 64 years ago.
The irony isn’t lost on Batricevic.
“Yeah, but it’s my day of infamy. So I’ll feel good when
the season opens in July and I get to play.”
For second-year guard Simon Atkins, the
coming UAAP wars will be his first season at the helm of
the defending champions. “Winning the championship in my
first real playing year in the league is a blessing. I’m
lucky because I got to learn from TY [Tang, who already
graduated] and the suspension year allowed me to get
used to college ball which is very different from
high-school competition.”
Basketball initially wasn’t a passion
for Atkins. He played pickup ball, but was never
seriously into the game until the program in Zobel began
a massive turnaround under coach Boris Aldeguer and he
had a sudden growth spurt. Running the point for his
strong Junior Archers team seemed like a breeze for him.
“I’d drive to the basket and if my way
was blocked, I’d pass it out to Migs [de Asis] and
Martin [Reyes], who were positioned at the three-point
arc,” he reminisces of their bread-and-butter play. “And
I had David [Webb] underneath waiting for a drop pass.”
The grandson of the former Letran great
and senator Freddie Webb, David is one of five rookies
who will trot onto the court on opening day. Webb, who
led Zobel to its second title in three years over
archrival Ateneo, saunters over to the bench after a
long and hard practice and takes his place beside
Atkins.
“It’s our first year together in
college,” says the rookie. “Maybe it will be like old
times… playing ball and having a good time. I’m just
finding my place in the team’s system and am looking
forward to contribute. I’m glad Simon’s at my side.”
PJ Walsham is resting on the floor with
an icepack on his right arm. An ugly bruise has
discolored his skin, courtesy of the elbows and rough
stuff of trying to defend the painted area against the
University of the East in their last Filoil match. His
game demeanor stored away for another day, he’s
wisecracking and jawing with this year’s cocaptain Rico
Maierhofer who’s on the bench wiping the sweat off his
face.
Walsham has a long mane and is almost
unrecognizable from his bald plate during last year’s
campaign. He won’t be shaving his head just yet. “Only
if we lose to Ateneo,” he jokes.
Last year was like a dream for him. He
got to play in every single game for the first time
including those matches with their rivals from Katipunan.
“Before I was on the bench during those games,” he
recounts. “Then last year I got to help my team.” Good
things come to those who wait and work hard.
Batricevic is now waiting his turn.
“If we had a surprise package last year,
it was PJ,” glowed assistant coach Jack Santiago. “He
helped out on the boards and played good defense. This
year we’re hoping for more consistency.”
For Maierhofer, consistency is the
hallmark of a winner. He grew up in Puerto Galera,
Mindoro, with a passion for volleyball. Only later on
did he pick up on hoops where he seemed to be even more
of a natural.
“Nanalo na ako sa UAAP at sa PBL [with
Harbour Centre],” he says softly as he’s finally relaxed
after the day’s grind. “Sana tuloy tuloy na rin ‘to at makapag-pro. Malaking bagay na
nakapunta ako sa
La Salle at nabigyan ng opportunity na makasama sa ganito.”
As Maierhofer revels in his
contributions to his teams’ success, PJ Barua is simply
thankful to be a part of it. Not bad for a boy from
Guimaras Island who told himself that if he got to
Manila, he’d be happy if he played for Far Eastern
University or UE. “Swerte ako kasi hindi lahat may
chance makapunta sa La Salle.”
So does he look forward to coaching,
perhaps?
“Gusto ko maging PE [Physical Education]
teacher,” he reveals. He’d like to go to the pros—what
player wouldn’t want. But coaching is not in his cards.
“Iba ’yung oras na binibigay ni coach Franz [Pumaren] sa
team. Parang hindi ko kaya ’yun. Happy na ako maging PE
teacher kasi marami akong matutulungan at matuturuan na
bata.”
Helping out. It’s as basic as help
defense. “They may be from different schools and
different provinces, but we mold them as a team to be a
team,” quantifies Santiago.
In the recent game against UE,
Maierhofer went to help out a teammate after the
Warrior’s dunking forward Elmer Espiritu threw a punch
at one of the Green Archers. “Sabi ko sa kanya na
basketball lang tayo at kung ayaw niya, dun siya sa may
kaya sa kanya.”
If head captain Jayvee Casio is the
silent type, Maierhofer and his fellow Bruise Brother,
Walsham, are the vocal ones on and off the court.
“That’s our way of showing brotherhood,” chimes in
Walsham, who’s prepping for the shot. “We look after
’yung teammates namin.”
It all sounds like serious business when
they talk about basketball, but once the final whistle
has sounded, the Green Archers, like their
contemporaries from the other teams, revert back to
being boys.
When Ateneo dealt them a loss in the
first game of their Final Four series, a cloud of doubt
hung over the team and the La Sallian community. “Oo,
meron pressure sa amin at meron mga hindi maganda
sinasabi,” recalled Walsham. “But we closed ranks and
talked about things. Si Jayvee minsan lang magsalita
pero when he does, tatamaan ka talaga.”
“I don’t have any brothers, only
sisters,” adds Atkins. “These guys [pointing to his
teammates as they mug for the cameras] are my
brothers.” They are more than a basketball team. Maybe
more accurately, they’re a bunch of brothers who are
each other’s best friends. They play video games (Casio
is the acknowledged champion when it comes to Counter
Strike) or go to a videoke bar to pass the time.
As for Batricevic? “I like to go to
parties,” he smiles. “I’ve been to Davao, Cebu, Bacolod,
Boracay.…I like it here. I do hope I’m given the chance
to play also in the PBL and maybe even in the PBA. What
basketball player does not dream of that? But if not,
then maybe I can be an ambassador for my country. Maybe
to the Philippines. I’ll be the first basketball player
to be an ambassador.”
He heads toward the door as his
teammates file out—the shoot done. “Ah, maybe the [New
Orleans] Hornets will win in the NBA, yes,” he thunders
in a booming voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
“There’s Chris Paul and my countryman, Peja [Stojakovic].
If they win, it’s a first, yes?” |
