FROM the list of 128 PBA draft applicants, one name that should stand out largely remains unnoticed by fans and media to this day.
Manu Codinera.
The 25-year-old former University of Santo Tomas Tiger reserve is the son of PBA legend and 25 Greatest Players and 40 Greatest inductee Jerry Codinera and the nephew of former PBA players Harmon and Pat.
But how come his name on the draft list doesn’t ring a bell, we asked Manu.
“Alam ko naman po yun na hindi maingay ang name ko at hindi rin ako ganun napapansin sa basketball. Not part of the top tier ones, kumbaga,” said the 25-year old Manu, the youngest among the former Purefoods star's five children.
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“But I am doing my best to atleast reach a level where I can earn my value as a player. Not necessarily reach my dad’s status back when he was still playing,” said the grandson of baseball legend, the late Filomeno 'Boy' Codinera.
The younger Codiñera told SPIN.ph that if there is one reason why he never became a big names in amateur basketball and even during his collegiate career, it was because he prioritized his studies over basketball on the advice of his parents.
“Nung time po kasi na nag-aaral ako, my parents and I would always haggle na payagan akong maka-focus sa basketball. Kasi po, my dad always believes na academics po ang pang lifetime, not basketball,” he said.
“Dad has always been telling us that basketball can be a lucrative career, but it can’t be a forever profession. He wanted us to focus more sa aming pag-aaral, not basketball. It’s quite bizaare knowing he is one of the legends of the game. But it is what is,” said Codiñera.
The 6-2 wingman said he just graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas with a Bachelor of Science in Fitness and Sports Management degree.
Codiñera bared that although he’d love to follow in the footsteps of his dad, he found more fulfillment in granting his parents’ wish of earning a diploma, which now guarantees his future regardless of what happens in basketball.
“If ever I end up being undrafted, I won’t feel bad coz I have my diploma with me. I can just apply for any job that has to do with sports science, or I can be a doctor if get additional units. But I am not thinking about it at this moment,” he said.
Pressure of Codinera name
Aside from the academics vs basketball dilemma, Manu said he has to deal with the untold pressure of being a Codinera in the world of basketball.
“Well, aside from my studies po. I had this stigma of being a Codiñera. Coaches typecast me as my dad who plays the big position. Something that I was not,” he said.
“Guard po kasi ang laro ko. Although nung high school, center at power forward ako kasi I was tall, when I stopped growing at 13 (years old), that’s when I decided to play 2 and 3,” shared the former La Salle Zobel forward.
But it was the pandemic that stymied the growth of the young Codiñera. While being part of UST Team B, pandemic struck and practices had to be cancelled. He ended up losing more than a year of basketball at a critical stage of his development.
“Yun po ang naging ordeal ko kasi, I already have this study-first set-up tapos ang tagal pa nawala ng practices. Then nung nag PSL po ako, my dad told me to quit kasi ang dalas ko na na-aabsent sa school dahil sa mga provincial games,” he said.
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“Alam ko naman po ang commitment ko sa parents ko so kahit ayaw ko iwan basketball. I had to,” said Codiñera who started playing basketball at the age of 7.
Asked if he thinks he is already PBA ready, Codiñera is optimistic.
“Yes, I am trying to catch up on my game, my dad has been fully focused on my development, and I also hired a personal trainer,” he said.
Now that he has a diploma, Manu has the support of his dad. And the older Codiñera said he, too, was a late-bloomer in basketnall and believes his son's development has more or less followed that trajectory.
“When I was a player, hindi naman din ako agad nag-excel. But I did my best to improve. When I was already in the PBA, hindi rin ako sanay dumepensa ng import, but I worked my way up. Ganyan din si Manu. He may not be one of the highly touted players in his batch. But ako bilib ako sa motivation ng bata,” he said.
“He is a big wingman, he has the agility and is a fast-learner. I believe he has the tools to give teams a big advantage sa position nya if given the chance. Plus he is a good defender,” said the former Purefoods Tender Juicy center.
Former Arellano Braves coach Tylon Dar Juan bared that Codiñera is a quick leaner and has improved leaps and bounds from the time he was with him.
“Nung time nya sa 'min, hilaw na hilaw pa yan. Pero ang bilis ng improvement, nakikita ko siya sa MPBL ibang-iba na. Malaking wing at maganda ang court vision,” said Dar Juan of the Muntinlupa Cagers mainstay.
“Tingin ko mabilis pa yan mag-iimprove at gaganda laro, lalo na yung tatay nya binabantayan na siya. Coach din si coach Jerry kaya alam nya paano pa yan develop,” he added. “Saka may genes ng basketball talaga yan. So hindi ako magugulat if mag-flourish siya sa PBA.”
Future-proof
Asked if he will be disappointed if Manu ends not getting a PBA contract before the 50th season starts, the elder Codiñera shook his head.
“Hindi. Kasi graduate na si Manu. He can work and apply for a position na rare pa sa Pilipinas. Dun lang happy na ko. He can take up masteral or even be a doctor or a team executive. He is future-proof na kumbaga,” said the longtime frontline partner of four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio.
“Pero syempre, gusto kong ma-draft siya. Pero I will never use my influence for him to be drafted. He needs to work hard for that spot. Nagulat nga ako kasi ini-interview nyo ako ngayon about him. Kasi I always wanted Manu to build his own name, not just rely on his surname and I think he’s been living that since he started trying out sa mga schools nung high school siya,” said Codiñera.
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