ANY athlete who has suffered it can attest that recovering from one torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a long process. It will be many months of agonizing rehabilitation filled with pain, loneliness and personal doubt.
What more when you sustain the career-threatening knee injury twice in four years?
But hope springs eternal for John Caesar “JC” Mañgio. He is confident he can overcome the adversity as he tries to make a much-awaited return to the mainstream varsity basketball spotlight.
The 23-year-old Mañgio is a former Jose Rizal University juniors team forward, and was a key part on the Light Bombers team that saw action in the NCAA juniors division in the late 2010s.
After his high school career, Mañgio weighed a couple of college options. One was staying with the Heavy Bombers, the other a chance to play at Far Eastern University. He tried out for both teams. He trained at JRU in Mandaluyong in the morning, then went to FEU FERN along Commonwealth at noon.
He looked poised to make the Tamaraws preseason roster alongside contemporaries including current Converge rising star Alec Stockton as he got measured for an FEU jersey ahead of a tournament.
“Parang sign na yun. Hindi ka naman siguro susukatan ng jersey kung hindi ka ibe-belong sa kanila eh,” Mañgio recalled.
But fate had other plans.
In a 2019 Holy Week break, Mañgio said yes to an invitation to go on a day trip in a friend’s hometown in Mindoro, a tour that had an early-morning call time. He woke up late; missed the trip.
“Ang nangyari, late ako nagising. Sabi ko, sige basketball na lang ako. Hanap na lang ako ng lalaruan,” Mañgio said.
Finding a pickup game to play on that Holy Wednesday, Mañgio saw himself engaged in a competitive individual matchup against what he heard was a University of Santo Tomas varsity player.
Reaching game point, Mañgio asked for an for isolation, then blew by his defender, but when he gathered with his right foot, he felt something in his leg.
His worst fear came true. He was diagnosed with an ACL tear on his right knee.
“Masakit sa part ko. Syempre big level na yun,” Mañgio said . The immediate result was that college offers disappeared. He also never got his FEU jersey.
Still, he looked at the bright side.
“Baka may reason lang kaya nangyari ‘to. Mayroon sa part ko na naisip, ‘Sige, bata pa naman ako. Sige, pahinga muna ako ng isang taon,’” said Mañgio, then 18. “Talagang nagpakundisyon ako.”
He started working out five months into his recovery, sweating it out six days a week to jog, and lifting weights at night.
After a year of rehab, Mañgio was prepared to give his college career another shot.
“Nung pabalik na ako, talagang ramdam na ramdam ko sa sarili ko na ready ang katawan ko. Parang iba. Parang sobrang kundisyon ka. Hindi lang one-hundred percent eh. Parang one-hundred fifty o kaya two hundred percent.”
Then coronavirus struck and towns and cities were locked down and many activities, including sports, came to a halt. Mañgio lost at least one year of rehab.
PHENOMENAL EXPOSURE
He crossed paths with a new friend in singer-vlogger Justin Vasquez, who invited him to play a pickup game against the Mav’s Phenomenal team of YouTube sensation and trainer Mavrick Bautista in a collaboration video.
Badly wanting to scratch the itch to play, Mañgio agreed and didn’t take long to impress coach Mav, enough to get an invite to be part of his Pheno scholars.
As a member of coach Mav’s developmental team, Mañgio lived with the squad in an Antipolo house where he learned about discipline, They underwent a daily routine that ended with them required to surrender their phones before going to bed at 9 p.m. Wake up time was 4:30 a.m., jogging starts at 5 a.m.
The military-like regimen prepared them for their “dayo” games in provinces where they showcased their individual skills to crowds and netizens who were hungry for sports in the middle of the pandemic.
The 6-foot-2 Mañgio quickly made a name as a high-flyer who can stand tall as the last line of defense and can go coast-to-coast to lead fastbreaks, as well as grab offensive rebounds for putback slams that drew loud cheers.
DANCING PRINCE
In his younger years, Mañgio already knew how it felt like to get the adoration of fans.
Born on August 8, 2000 and raised in Galas, Quezon City, the youngest of three brothers grew up to find dancing as his first extra-curricular activity.
“Hindi ko talaga una hilig yung basketball. Ang hilig ko talaga before is yung pag-sayaw,” he bared with a smile.
Idolizing world-renowned dance crew Jabbawockeez, Mañgio joined a dance contest in a barangay fiesta when he was 9 years old.
“Nakakatuwa na pinaghihiyawan ka ng tao,” he admitted.
But getting his height from dad, Francisko Jr., who stands 6’0” and played varsity ball for FEATI University in the old MUCAA (Manila Universities and Colleges Athletic Association), and influenced by another hoop dreamer in older brother Mikko, JC turned his attention to basketball.
Mañgio spent most of his free time playing in street halfcourts near his home.
“Dun ako naging tambay. Minsan umuuwi na lang ako ng bahay para kumain.”
His first organized basketball came in elementary school intramurals at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart along Plaridel St. in Galas, playing good enough to win MVP honors right away in Grade 6 intrams.
Mañgio formed what he called a “Peanut Butter and Jelly” duo with close pal Tom Vasquez, teaming up in Grade 6 to beat high school juniors and seniors in money games during recess.
Mañgio and Vasquez got recruited by Trinity University of Asia where they played their first high school varsity hoops.
Their first coach at Trinity was impressed with their game and told them to try out at JRU.
After some hesitation, Mañgio and Vasquez made the leap of faith.
“Nakakatawa pa nun, syempre bata pa kami. Hindi namin alam paano papunta dun. Eh ang aga ng call time nun, parang 5 a.m. tapos 4 a.m. magkasama na kami. Naghihintay kami ng mga jeep. Sabi namin: ‘Ito ba yun? Ito ba?’ Nagtanong kami kung saan bababa. Buti na lang, nakarating kami ng safe,” Mañgio recalled with a chuckle.
But it was all business when they got to the Kalentong campus. They passed the tryout and earned scholarships as members of the Light Bombers.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman namin in-expect na makarating sa big school na ganun, kasi may mga idol kaming pinapanood na nandudun eh. At dumating sa point na yung mga iniidolo namin, nakalaban na din namin,” Mañgio recalled.
The Light Bombers faced various UAAP and NCAA teams including powerhouse NU Nazareth School twice in different tournaments, only losing by small margins.
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Mañgio won’t forget his second face-off against the Bullpups side of Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Migs Oczon, Terrence Fortea, and Gerry Abadiano in an NCR Palaro finale where JRU represented Mandaluyong and NU flying the flag for Manila.
“Hindi ko makakalimutan nun, na-block ko si Carl Tamayo sa board, like nagkita kami sa taas. Tapos sinigawan ko, syempre hindi mawawala, hyped ka eh. Syempre championship, hindi ko na napigilan yung emosyon ko,” Mañgio recalled.
Tamayo’s team had the last laugh, though, they won, but Mañgio went home with an unforgettable moment as he joined Tamayo among the Best Five in that 2019 meet.
FAMILIAR NIGHTMARE
Mañgio continued his high-wire act with the Pheno team as they hopped from province to province to show what they got in the hope of getting a look from scouts – and provide entertainment to their growing fanbase.
But in one dayo game in Laguna, Mañgio tried to go for a putback dunk off a miss by another highlight-reel maker in Poypoy Actub. But after hanging on the rim, JC had an awkward fall and tore his ACL for the second time.
“Parang nag-flashback lahat sa’kin. Parang naiyak ako. Sabi ko, ‘Ito na naman tayo. Pahinga na naman tayo ng one year,’” Mañgio recalled.
“Hanggang sa tinanggap ko na lang ulit. Baka may reason lang ulit,” he was quick to add.
REVIVING TWO DREAMS
With Bautista graciously paying for his therapy sessions, Mañgio is focused on his rehab again. Then one day, another door opened.
His dad got a call last October from World Citi Colleges coach June Da Jose, who asked if his son wanted to play for the school in Anonas, Quezon City.
“Thankful ako na kahit injured ako, at least kahit papaano may nag-offer. May dumating na blessing,” said Mañgio, who’s enrolled in a Tourism Management course and is set to play in the second semester.
“Parang mas ginanahan ulit ako. Kasi nung time na yung parang nawalan ako ng ano sa sarili ko. Sabi ko, ‘Ilaban ko pa kaya ‘to?’ Hindi lang isa kundi dalawang beses na nangyari eh. Sabi ko, bigyan mo ako ng sign, Lord. Hanggang sa may kumontak kay erpats. Sabi ko, ‘Thank you, Lord. Pagbubutihan ko pa,’” he added.
A year after his second torn ACL, Mañgio has recently been fully cleared to play.
Looking back, he admits he still wonders where his career would’ve been now had he woken up earlier to join the Mindoro trip in 2019 – and avoided his first ACL tear.
“Actually hanggang ngayon, meron (pagsisisi),” he admitted. “Iniisip ko pa din eh. Meron sa part ko na, ‘What if nagising ako ng maaga, nasaan na kaya ako ngayon?’”
“Grabe kasi yung tiwala ko sa sarili ko. Parang feel ko, kung hindi nangyari lang yun, parang mas mataas na level pa siguro,” he added, wondering if he could’ve reached the MPBL or PBA already. “Pag nandito ka na sa age bracket na ‘to, ang goal dapat nandun ka na eh.”
“Pero syempre, hindi pa rin ako titigil,” he was quick to add. “Alam ko na process pa lang ito. May kasabihan nga na, ‘Trust the process.’ Alam ko sa sarili ko na pipilitin ko pa rin abutin yun. Walang makakapigil.”
Now, he’s also motivated for his family – his mom, Mameng, who has stood by him since he was a kid, and kuya and fellow aspirant, Mikko.
“Ginagawa ko ‘to hindi na lang para sa akin. Para sa amin. Kasi kuya ko, yun din kasi pangarap. Kung hindi niya man maabot, gusto kong abutin,” JC said.
Mikko said he’ll always be a call away – like when the time it was him who JC first called when he hurt his knee for the first time on that fateful 2019 Holy Wednesday.
“Hindi ko alam na tumatak pala sa kanya (na ako ang impluwensya niya),” Mikko said. “Bata pa siya nun eh; nine, 10 years old. Tapos magugulat ako na isa din pala ako sa inspirasyon niya para makaabot dun sa pangarap ko rin dati. Masayang-masaya ako na malaki pala yung part ko sa journey niya.”
Two ACL tears later, JC is bent on proving his journey is far from over.
“Ang dami ko ng pinagdaanan. Pero para sa akin, malayo na, pero malayo pa.”
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