ASIDE from fulfilling his childhood dream of playing in the PBA, former La Salle guard Mark Nonoy has one other simple wish for himself if and when he lands his first league contract: buy his own car.
One of the key figures in La Salle’s run to its latest UAAP championship, the 5-9 spitfire bared that his entire collegiate career and his brief time in the MPBL, he would often take public transport to school and venues.
“Wala po ako kotse so madalas mag-taxi ako," said Nonoy, who often commutes to school and gyms - Angkas and taxis preferably since he feels embarrassed to be recognized inside a jeepney, or Grab when the budget allows it.
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"Pag wala naman allowance at tight ang budget, taxi ako. Grab din minsan kaso medyo mas mahal yun eh," he added. “Mas madalas po mag-Angkas ako kasi pag nag-jeep minsan nakikilala po ako ng ibang tao.
"Eh para naman po di nakakahiya sa school ko at team sa MPBL na, ‘Nakita ko si Nonoy, naka jeep lang’, naga-Angkas na lang po ako. Saka mas mabilis po yun eh."
Asked if he was never given a car at La Salle, the 23-year old bared that he was already contented with whatever he was receiving as player’s allowance.
“Nahiya naman po ako mag-demand ng service 'nun kahit 'yung ibang kasama ko may mga pa-kotse. Yung school naman po kasi di nagbibigay ng ganun (car service), yung mga teammates ko na may kotse, usually bigay po 'yun ng manager o kaya benefactor nila. Ako kasi nahihiya,” he said.
Topex Robinson, Nonoy’s coach at La Salle, said his former point guard was never late for practices or games even if he often took public transport.
“Lagi nga nagco-commute 'yan before pero never siya na-late sa practice. Mas nauuna pa siya sa gym lagi kesa sa mga teammates n'ya na naka-kotse,” said Robinson of his former player from Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
“Ang isa talagang hinahangaan ko sa kanya is yung dedication nya sa game at team namin. Wala akong naging problema sa bata na yan,” he added.
“Galing din sa hirap si Mark. So literally, basketball ang nakikita kong susi ng pamilya n'ya para makagaan. From getting his education to now a chance at getting a good pay. I hope he gets drafted."
Nonoy bared that growing up in a poor family, he never experienced having a family car.
“Wala po kami kotse nun nanghihiram lang kami pag kailangang kailangan. Pero most of the time commute talaga - tricycle, jeep, ganun po,” said Nonoy, who bared that he learned to drive when relatives and friends used him as driver in the province.
“Kaya po pag na-draft ako, una ko pag-iipunan kotse para may mobility then invest na po ako siguro sa bahay pag kaya ko na,” said the former star of Hua Siong University in Iloilo.
Asked if he is confident of being picked high in Sunday's PBA draft at Glorietta after impressing in the Draft Combine the past two days, Nonoy says he can only keep his fingers crossed.
“Sana po ma-draft para po matupad ko na isa-isa pangarap ko, saka kahit tricycle muna makabili ako sa bahay namin sa probinsya,” he said.
Nonoy bared that growing up, he was a fan of Jayson Castro but supported San Miguel even during its Petronovela days.
“San Miguel po team ko nun kasi gusto ko yung line-up. Kaya lang si Jayson Castro po idol ko. Kaya nung minsan po na mapunta ko Manila, talagang nanuod po ako sa Araneta [Coliseum] nung naglaban yung SMB saka TNT, 2017 pa po yun. High School pa ko,” he said before sending a copy of his pictures from ringside.
“Ang saya-saya ko po nun nung nakapanood ako ng live sa PBA. Sabi ko ganun pala yun. Kaya po nagsikap din ako makapasok sa Manila. Yun nga po nag UST at La Salle ako."
Now that he is one step away from fulfiling his childhood dream, Nonoy vowed to do everything to impress PBA teams.
“Kaya po talaga binuhos ko lahat at nag pay off naman kasi po nag top ako sa Draft Combine at ngayon nababanggit-banggit na pangalan ko. Yun pa lang po nai-inspire na ko at masaya na ko,” said Nonoy.
“Basta pangako ko po pag na-draft po ako. Ibibigay ko po ang lahat sa team na magtitiwala sa 'kin at di ko sisirain ang kanilang tiwala sa 'kin,” he added.
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