PLENTY of players in the NCAA came in highly-touted, recruited, or even promoted from their homegrown programs. As for Lance Aurigue, he did things the hard way.
While suiting up for his old alma mater St. Dominic Savio College and playing in the UCSAA, the young power forward saw a window of opportunity to try out for Lyceum.
"Way back 2023, nag-tryout ako sa Lyceum, kasama ko tropa ko. Then, suddenly nga, hindi nga ako pinagpala na nakuha. Then, bumalik ako sa dati kong school. Nag-improve lang, nagpalakas," he said.
“Pero, inisip ko pa rin na bawi na lang ako sa susunod. Di pala huli ang lahat eh. Kasi, marami pang chances.”
READ: Lance Aurigue stands tall as Jamike Jarin's Lyceum era gets going
Fortunately for Aurigue, that second chance did come in current Bestlink head coach Jerich Felipe, who was still an assistant for the Pirates at the time with coach Gilbert Malabanan.
“Tapos noong 2024, tinulungan ako ni coach Jerich na mag-tryout daw ako ulit. ‘Malay mo, makuha mo,’ ganyan. Ako, tinry ko lang din kasi mali ko nga, diba. Tapos, ayun nga, blessings din na nakuha ako, tapos tuloy-tuloy na," he said.
When he arrived to Intramuros, and by extension to the NCAA, the lights were brighter than the 6-foot-5 forward expected. Luckily for him, he arrived to a squad with plenty of veterans, some of whom continued to guide him to this day.
“Ang laki ng transition pala,” he realized.
“Hindi naman sa small league, tapos naging big leagues. Credits pa rin sa mga senior ko pa rin doon, kaila Kuya [JM] Bravo, kaila Kuya Ato [Barba], kay [JM] Versoza, kila Joshua Moralejo," he continued.
“Sila yung tumulong din sa akin na, na, gawin ko lang daw yung, kung ano yung role ko para di rin ako ma-pressure.”
All in for Jarin
As if his transition to the Grand Ol' League wasn’t enough, he also had to come to terms with shifting from Gilbert Malabanan to new shotcaller Jamike Jarin, whose reputation precedes him even if he is only now returning to the NCAA as well.
And for an incoming sophomore, the pressure was understandable. Fortunately for him, Jarin had his back.
And with this 21-point, 13-rebound performance that fended off Mapua, Aurigue has also now proven that he has his as well.
“Nung December, nung nabalitaan ko na mag-iiba ng coaches, parang nag-overthink din ako noon, iniisip ko kung magugustuhan ba ako ng magiging bagong coaches, ganyan. Tapos nung pumalit na si coach Jamike, binigyan niya ako ng confidence talaga na makalaro ng maayos," he said.
“Kasi ang laki din ang transition ko po noon eh, from limited minutes to starter. Tapos, ayun, kinausap lang din ako ni Coach Jamike, sabi niya, ’Nak, gawin mo lang yung gusto ko, tutulungan kita hanggang sa maabot na yung pangarap mo.”
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