SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — To represent the country is not only a rare privilege, it also takes the ultimate sacrifice.
Take Gilas Youth team captain Jolo Pascual, for example.
He was second in the team in scoring with 14 points on 50 percent shooting in the nationals’ 113-62 win over Vietnam in the FIBA U-16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers.
READ: Gilas Youth opens SEABA U16 on a high with rout of Vietnam
But behind an impressive showing in such a statement victory is the aching heart of a 15-year-old kid.
Right after the match, the players stepped out of the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center to greet their family and friends for the first time after their months-long training camp.
It was an emotional moment not only for Pascual but for almost every single Gilas Youth player who wore the flag on their chest knowing how much they’ll have to sacrifice and put aside.
For Pascual, it’s been nearly half a year since he had the time to be with his family in Tarlac. Neither has the family been able to visit him in the Big City.
To see them cheer him on and feel their warm embraces and fighting words were wins just as big as the one he pulled off on the court.
“Four months na. Four months ko nang hindi nakakasama [‘yung family ko]. It’s a sacrifice talaga,” Pascual shared SPIN.ph.
“Two months kaming nag-ensayo sa Gilas at every day has been a learning [experience].
“Nag-struggle po kami nu’ng una kasi nu’ng tip-off, lahat excited. Pero pagdating na sa laro, siyempre, mag-struggle ka talaga. Normal lang talaga kabahan pero grateful at masaya,kasi once in a lifetime ‘to.”
READ How 'Boss Al's' calming presence got LA through Gilas Youth coaching debut
And one of many things Gilas Youth head coach LA Tenorio was proud of the most about his wards? Overcoming the challenges of being students, athletes and sons for the love of the game and the pride of the country.
“Ngayon lang kami nakumpleto, on this day. Kanina lang dumating yung is,” Tenorio said.
“It was really a big challenge for us as a group na hindi makumpleto because of the schoolwork, exam week. But, again, thank God. Talagang ginabayan niya kami and the players also.
“We want to improve. We want to get better every game, every day, actually. Hopefully, the players will respond again tomorrow.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
