IF there’s one person who knew rookie Ralph Cu from way back, its Northport team manager Pido Jarencio.
The veteran coach happened to be a former teammate of Louie Cu – Ralph’s father – during their time together at University of Santo Tomas back in the 80s.
Glowing Goldies teammates
The two played together with the old Glowing Goldies for just one season, but kept a friendship that remained strong to this day.
“Kasama ko siya sa UST. First year ko, last year niya. Nauna siya sa akin doon (UST),” recalled Jarencio.
The school, according to the current Santo Tomas head coach, had a bad record then under the late Olympian Eddie Pacheco.
“Hindi kami nakapag-finals nun. Masama ang record namin,” said Jarencio, considered among the greatest basketball players to have come out of Espana.
What’s distinct about the older Cu was his immense size for a guard, according to Jarencio.
“Guwardiya siya. 6-foot-3 na guwardiya,” said the veteran coach of his teammate, who also had a brief stint with CF Sharp in the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL) before quitting the game for good to focus on the family business.
Asked who between father and son was better, Jarencio said it’s the younger Cu.
“Mas magaling, mas marunong maglaro yun (Ralph). Tsaka mas mautak maglaro, mas may shooting pa,” said Jarencio with a poke face.
And Jarencio doesn’t see the elder Cu admonishing him for his real talk.
“Walang problema yun, proud daddy yun, e,” he said.
And who wouldn’t be especially with the way Cu has been playing for Ginebra these days.
Ralph Cu getting the breaks at Ginebra
The product of De La Salle is a revelation for the Kings in the ongoing Philippine Cup, where he posted a career-best of 24 points behind six three pointers in a 95-88 victory over Northport.
Cu actually came an assist shy of notching a triple double as he also had 10 rebounds and nine assists.
He currently averages 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the 6-3 Kings.
Coach Tim Cone naturally has good words for his prize rookie, who the Kings tabbed in the second round of last year’s draft.
“From the very beginning when Ralph came into his first practice, everybody was saying, ‘Wow this kid can play,’” Cone recalled. “I mean he just had a presence about him, calm, relaxed presence about him. He sees the floor extremely well and he has a great basketball instinct.”
Incidentally, it was during the game between Ginebra and Northport that Cu went over to Jarencio at the Batang Pier bench just before the match to offer him a hug and handshake.
“He’s my dad’s teammate at UST dati during their UAAP days nila. So I know him na for a while na din,” said Cu of the respect he accorded to Jarencio.
And while the Kings and their legion of fans were surprised to see that Cu can play ball, Jarencio was the least impressed.
As the saying goes, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.
In this case, Jarencio is certain the fruit is even better.
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.
