As a gangling 5-foot-11 kid in Bacolod with close to zero skills in basketball, Baclao had no idea that a decision to buy shoe lace would take him to a path that led all the way to the PBA.
NOY Baclao’s basketball career took him from faraway Bacolod City to Manila, where he suited up for Ateneo in college before making the jump to the PBA.
But Baclao’s life could've taken a different turn if not for a shoe lace.
The soft-spoken Meralco Bolts big man recalled the day he was being recruited to be part of the West Negros College high school varsity team, not because of a successful tryout or an impressive game.
“Nasa downtown area kami. Sabi ko kay Tita, tara bili tayo sapatos. [Pero] naisip ko, may sapatos pa naman ako pero ang kulang, shoe lace. Sabi ko, ‘Yun na lang bilhin natin.' Mahirap lang kami. Sabi ng tita ko, ‘Sure ka?’ [Sabi ko] oo. [Kaya] naghanap kami,” Baclao related to SPIN Sidelines.
Little did Baclao know that the trip to find a shoe lace would change his life forever.
“Lumapit sa akin si coach Gustilo. Dati siyang player ng West Negros. Akala pa nga ng tita ko, scam. Tinanong kasi ako kung gusto ko raw ba mag-aral sa West Negros at maging varsity. Kausapin daw naming yung may-ari mismo. Tinawagan namin si Mama na nandito pa sa Manila. Sabi niya, sige try niyo lang,” Baclao said.

At that time, he was 14 years old and had little knowledge of basketball. Baclao’s sport was actually football, but at 5-foot-11 it was hard for the coach not to notice him.
Shortly after that chance meeting, Baclao became an athletic scholar at WNC.
“After nun, kinausap kami ni sir Tony,” Baclao said, referring to WNC owner Tony Agustin. “Binigyan nila ako ng full scholarship. Kahit papaano dun ako nagsimula mag-basketball nung bata ako.”
Baclao, however, said luck wan't enough to keep him in the team. He admitted it was difficult to be part of the varsity team, being very new to the game. But Baclao strived harder just so he could keep his scholarship and help his mother.
“Wala akong alam sa basics. As in second year ako, ang ginawa ng coach, nasa gilid lang ako naglalaro ‘yung team, pinagdi-dribble at pinapatakbo ako. Siguro six months ganun ako. Magku-quit na ako pero sayang ‘yung aral eh. ‘Yun lang ‘yung habol ko nung una. Sabi ng mama ko parati, kailangan ko magtapos,” Baclao said.

Baclao also found some help from teammate Jeff Aledron, who would later become one of his closest friends. He died of a kidney problem a few years ago but his impact on Baclao’s life will never be forgotten.
Baclao said Aledron was a big reason why he was able to improve leaps and bounds at West Negros College, always motivating him to work on his game as well as his studies just so that he could maintain his scholarship.
“Sobrang accommodating sa akin. Siya ‘yung parang kapatid ko na nung high school. Namatay na siya pero sobrang love ko ‘yung tao na ‘yun. Siya ‘yung nagbigay sa akin na, ‘Push natin ‘to. Push natin ‘to. Sayang ‘yung opportunity’,” Baclao said.
“Sabi niya, ‘Noy, sayang, nandito ka na. ‘Yung opportunity, grab mo na. Aral, tulungan kita. Sa pag-aaral, sa commute, every day, magkasama kami. Kung naging babae siya, baka naging girlfriend ko na ‘yun. Ibang klaseng kaibigan ‘yun,” he added.
Aledron also saw a potential in Baclao, which was perhaps the reason why he was determined to motivate his friend.
“Siya pa nagsabi sa akin na palagay ko nasa top five o top three ka ngayon. Pero hopefully, maging top one ka. Sabi ko, naku malayo pa,” Baclao said.
The perseverance paid off as Baclao slowly became one of the top bigs in Bacolod, good enough for then Ateneo coach Norman Black to take notice during the Blue Eagles’ participation in the University Games.
“At that time, second year college na ako. Lakas din namin. Halos lahat ng liga sinasalihan namin, ang lakas namin. Naging national champion din kami kahit papaano. Ibig sabihin, kaya naming mag-compete,” said Baclao.
At Ateneo, Baclao became the Finals MVP during the Blue Eagles’ title run in 2008 against La Salle, which became his springboard to being selected first overall in the 2010 PBA Rookie Draft.
After eight seasons in the PBA, the 6-5 center/ forward said he will forever be grateful for that one moment when he decided to buy shoe lace instead of a new pair of shoes.
“Minsan natatawa rin ako na dahil sa shoe lace napunta ako sa West Negros,” said Baclao.
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