COLLEGE of St. Benilde rookie Matthew Jucom had already seen what San Beda could do to his team before he ever stepped onto the NCAA season 102 floor.
The Red Lions beat the Blazers on opening day last season, then did it twice more in the semifinals to end Benilde’s title hopes.
A year later, Jucom found himself in the middle of that rivalry, making his collegiate debut in front of a packed Mall of Asia Arena with the defending champions standing across him.
READ: Liwag-less Benilde trips San Beda in start of title defense
There were nerves, as expected. But the rookie refused to let the moment, or the deafening San Beda crowd, dictate his game.
“Bilang rookie, ginawa ko lang yung best ko. ‘Di ako nagpapadala sa mga fans ng [San] Beda kasi alam mo naman [San] Beda, defending champion, tsaka maraming fans yun,” Jucom told SPIN.ph.
Instead, Jucom played his game and eventually wiped away those rookie jitters after stuffing the statheet with 18 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and a block as Benilde finally got one back against its longtime nemesis with a 77-68 victory.
For the 21-year old forward, it was the culmination of a journey that took him through different stops before landing in Taft.
He first trained with La Salle but did not get to play for the Green Archers. It was through Phenom Sports Management that he eventually find his way to the other side of Taft, where he got the opportunity to begin his collegiate career.
Before that, Jucom had already made his mark in the grassroots scene playing for Don Bosco Dumaguete in the 2023-24 NBTC season before suiting up for Phenom the following year.
Those experiences prepared him for the next step, but nothing could have fully prepared him for an NCAA debut against San Beda in a packed MOA Arena.
“Iyong confidence ko na binibigay ng mga coaches ko. Naging first group ako sa team, kaya binibigay ko din yung best ko,” said Jucom.
The motivation was also personal.
After watching the Blazers lose to the Red Lions in last year’s semifinals, Jucom knew he wanted to be better when his own opportunity came.
“Sabi ko, ‘di pwedeng ganito lang. Gusto kong bumawi sa [San] Beda,” he said.
So during the offseason, he went to work on his shooting and dribbling so when the opening day finally arrived, all that preparation showed.
But amid the 6-foot-2 wingman’s breakout debut was one person he wanted to make proud.
Two-time reigning MVP Allen Liwag is sidelined with an achilles injury heading into the season, leaving Benilde without one of its biggest leaders and most dominant big man.
Liwag, however, made sure to reach out to the newcomer before his first NCAA game.
After seeing the rookie’s photoshoot post on social media, Liwag sent him a simple message.
READ: Two-time NCAA MVP Allen Liwag out for Season 102: Sources
“Matt, bigay mo lang yung best mo, magtiwala ka lang sa mga senior mo,” Liwag told him.
Indeed, Jucom took that advice with him in the opening day.
And when the pressure came, he did exactly what his idol told him to do.
“Syempre, tinitingala ko din si Kuya Allen,” Jucom said.
“Two-time MVP. Siya yung pinaka-senior dito and siya yung pinaka-dominant bigs sa NCAA.”
So while Liwag works his way back from injury, Jucom gave Benilde something to smile about on opening day.
A rookie who came from province. earned his shot with the Blazers, and walked into a hostile MOA Arena for his first NCAA game.
He walked out with 18 points, a win over the defending champions, and perhaps the first big statement of his collegiate career.
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