8 solid years of ball and his last game was a failure for most of the spectators. It wasn't a good way to end a collegiate career nor would it be how he would have planned to end his years as a Stag. His statistics for the Finals bout were 1 Rebound, 0 Freethrows, 4 Assists, 1 Steal, 0 Blocks, 6 Turnovers, 2 Fouls, 3 Field Goals, 1 3-pointer, and 2 2-pointers. Too bad for him, most people only care and remember the last basket missed, the last turnover, the last error, the last game lost, or in this case, the last championship crown we gave away to Beda. They seem to forget that once, that Stag brought home a few crowns to our school.
2005 and 2006. Check your history and you will know that these years were the first 2 years of a 4-peat championship that made stars such as Raffy Reyes, Arvie Bringas, Ryan Buenafe, Eric Carlo Salamat, and Paul Lee. But wait, they can't and will not be able to win one championship, more so, four if there weren't other players in the team. One of those players who contributed 2 of those 4-peat championship streak was the Stag a number of people are now calling stupid. Stupid for all those turnovers, stupid for not playing good enough as a point guard, stupid for not leading his team enough to emerge as this year's NCAA basketball champion. Yes, he was one of the important members of that team that gave you a 4-peat Juniors NCAA record, ending a 19-year championship drought. He was wearing jersey number 18 then.
2009. The Seniors won their first championship after a 7-year drought . He was a part of that Jimbo Aquino-led team. He was now wearing jersey number 17.
It saddened me to see a number of Sebastinos post on Facebook things like, "Ang bobo mo namang point guard!" or "Wala kang kwentang point guard ang dami mong turnovers." These people, sadly, might not even have an idea that he wasn't originally a POINT GUARD. His original team position was the 2 - SHOOTING GUARD. (Many don't even know the difference between the two positions.) He didn't use to care about play-making. Before, as part of the team, his main aim is to shoot. But in the middle of the first round of the 87th NCAA season, he was transitioned to be a point guard, following the unfortunate ACL injury of Jonjon Semira. If one would look closely at the game, one would see glimpses of his original position emerge in some crucial moments of the game. He won't think twice of going for a basket, a trait common to SGs. He shoots teardrops, a basket not common to PGs but considered one of the strengths of an SG.
I remember a tweet by Jovit Dela Cruz that said something like a team is composed of members and it doesn't necessarily mean that all members should have equal points. That's true. When they play ball, their scores aren't going to be always equal. And their performances wouldn't exactly be the same with each game. If he really was a failure at his last game, then maybe, Garvo Lanete would have outgun the team with his killer three's. But he wasn't able to do so because this Stag I'm talking about was guarding Garvo like his life depended on it.
As I always say, give the guy a break. He played with all that he could. Maybe, it just wasn't meant to be his day that day. You see, there are no coincidences in life. Everything's been pre-planned, sorted out by the big Boss up there. If for that day, the championship wasn't one of His plans for the Stags, we cannot question the Boss up there. They may play with all their hearts and with all their mights, but if the Boss up there says the baskets will be closed for our team, who are we to say it should be opened? For what God has closed, no man can open. If God has already closed the doors on the Stags for a championship this year, who are we to argue against the Boss who holds all of our lives? Every closed door provides an eye-opener for those involved. God will not close a door on you without a purpose. We may not understand it yet, or we are just too stubborn to admit what the purpose is, but someday the purpose will be plainly seen.
There is always one player who gets to be called King each year. Eric Carlo Salamat, in his last year as an Eagle was called King Eagle. Kevin Louie Alas, though not yet in his last year for the Knights was tagged King Knight.
KING STAG. Who deserves the title? Is it Calvin Abueva, this year's season MVP? Or Ronald Pascual, our 3-pointer hero? Or Ian Sangalang who was awarded Defensive Player of the season? The title King Stag in my opinion, should be awarded not to those who scored the most this season but to the one who played the longest, brought home the most number of championships whether for the Juniors division alone or for the Juniors and Seniors division combined. So to you baller number 17, a lot of people may disagree with me because they have such close-minded brains who would only care for the most recent errors and mistakes and game loss, but there is no other player worthy to be called King Stag this year other than you. Thank you for playing for the Golden Stags for 8 wonderful years. Win or lose, you know where your home is - the home of a true champion. And no, you have not turned from hero to zero. You will always be a hero, as long as the records of the NCAA say the Juniors brought home 4 championships in a row from 2005-2008, and that the Seniors brought home the 2009 crown. Stand proud, King Stag ROLAND ANTHONY DEL RIO!
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| photo source: http://fullcourtfresh.com |
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