TO no surprise, Ato Barba was left heartbroken when he didn’t hear his name get called in the 2025 PBA Draft just last month.
He was so out of it to the point that he took a step back from basketball for a few days as he sought comfort, and wisdom, from the people closest to him as he pondered the next steps that he should be taking in his basketball career.
It was a request honored by Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan, who totally understood what his player was going through at that time.
READ NCAA Mythical Five member Ato Barba unbowed after PBA draft snub
“After nun, talagang nalungkot ako, talagang nasaktan ako sa nangyari. Siyempre pangarap ng bawat Pilipino na basketball player ang mapunta sa PBA e,” the former NCAA Mythical Team member said.
“Nagpaalam ako, two days akong nawala sa training kasi kailangan ko pamilya ko at that time e, nagiisip talaga ako,” he added.
As it turns out, that much-needed time away from the court allowed him to put things in perspective.
Thanks to his family and friends, Barba soon found himself back on the basketball floor, totally re-energized and motivated to lead Lyceum to a breakthrough year come NCAA Season 101.
“Nag-ask ako sa family ko, sa mga friends ko, nag muni-muni ako tapos dun ko na-realize na ang swerte ko pala kasi after ng PBA, may opportunity pa ako makabalik sa school, makapaglaro ng isa pang NCAA season at may opportunity pa ko na maipakita ang talent ko.”
His first official game back in the NCAA likewise ended in heartbreak as his Pirates fell short of a massive opening day upset, losing in double-overtime to reigning champion Mapua 90-89.
Barba himself struggled, limited to just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting as the Cardinals hounded him all night long.
READ: Mapua starts title defense with thrilling 2OT triumph over Lyceum
He understands that things aren’t going to get any easier from this point on after putting the league on notice last year with consecutive 20-point games and a second-league best average of 17.6 points a night
“After nung breakout season ko last year, inexpect ko talaga na sa scouting, hahanapin talaga ng mga teams yung weaknesses ko so ayun ang kailangan ko talaga i-improve,” he said.
“Kung hindi ako maka-score, kailangan ko maging masipag. Kailangan ko parin humanap ng paraan kung paano ko mas makakatulong sa team. Ayun, step by step naman.”
He did show other facets of his game – playmaking to be specific – as he finished with seven assists to his name against just a single turnover.
But even in that part, Barba sees a lot of points for improvement as he believes he turned passive at times in the game, failing to ultimately get his rhythm on the offensive end of things.
“Alam ko kailangan ko rin makapag-create para sa teammates ko. Siguro kailangan i-balance ko yung offense, playmaking, at defense,” he said.
“Siguro mas kailangan ko pa maging aggressive on offense. Andami kong mga pasa kanina and dumating sa point na may mga libre na ako at hindi ko naititira tapos mas pinapasa ko. Ngayon kailangan ko lang siya pag-isipan at pag-aralan ng mabuti.”
But while making the PBA is still his personal dream, that can wait.
The goal for him right now is to lead Lyceum to another successful year in the NCAA and then get his degree while he still has the chance.
Everything else will fall into place. Or so he hopes.
“Ang motivation ko ngayon, siyempre unang-una gawing memorable ‘tong final season ko lalo na maraming graduating samin. Para naman sakin gusto ko tapusin yung college ko makatapos ng pagaaral,”
“Kung ano man yung maging resulta ng career ko, masaya naman ako kasi kahit papaano nakakapag-inspire kami.”
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.
