By Lee Benjamin
HE may be selling peanuts on the side, but there's nothing peanuts or insignificant about the way this innocuous legume has transformed the life of Justine 'Tebol' Garcia, Adamson High School's star player who helped his team win the UAAP Season 86 juniors basketball championship and also earned him a spot in the Mythical Five.
Tebol, who earned the nickname after bumping his head on the table while in kindergarten, is not a name now but may soon be in the years ahead after becoming a sought-after high school talent. Already, three UAAP and NCAA schools have shown interest in recruiting him.
READ Adamson rips NU in Game 3 to end 31-year UAAP juniors title drought
Between basketball practice and actual games, however, Tebol is doing what many young men and women do when faced with financial adversity: they take on odd jobs that may seem unusual and give little in return.
In the case of the 19-year-old, 5-foot-11 guard, it is selling peanuts. The only child of a Pampanga couple, Tebol took this job to help the family survive the challenges of daily living. And he goes about doing this proudly even while being a starter for his Adamson high school team.
"May business po akong 'Teb's Peanuts' and 'di po ako nahihiyang mag-post sa social media na nagtitinda ako ng mani, " he said. "Proud po ako sa ginagawa ko. Wala naman pong masama dun."
"Yung iba, pwedeng sabihin nila, 'Uy, nagtitinda lang ng mani.' Pero laging sinasabi sa'kin nina [Adamson] coach Mike [Fermin], 'Ok lang yan.' As long as nakakatulong ako sa parents ko, ok lang po sa'kin.'
Already struggling to make ends meet, the family was not spared of another adversity. Their simple family home in San Fernando, Pampanga was demolished in 2023 and they were forced to move in with his grandmother just as he was slowly realizing stardom with the Baby Falcons.
As his team was marching towards the UAAP high school finals in Season 85, he and his parents were stressed for losing their home and have been worrying when they'll ever get another one.
They decided that to get back on their feet, all of them must contribute to enlarge their peanut business. Soon, father and son were cooking raw peanuts together while his mother helped with the packaging.
That, however, was not the hard part. It was transporting the product and it was Teble who singlehandedly took care of this. He carried about 100 bottles of that filled two large plastic bags, rode a bus along with his personal belongings up to Doroteo Jose in Sta. Cruz, Manila, and from there took the LRT and got off a station near his school in San Marcelino Street in Malate.
Needless to say, the work was backbreaking, but there was not a wisp of complaint from Tebol.
"Kahit ngalay na po 'yung balikat ko tapos siksikan sa bus at LRT, tinitiis ko."
The earnings didn't go to his pocket or for any teen frivolities. They went straight to his parents, Jojo and Donacel. "Lahat ng mabebenta ko, binabalik ko sa kanila. Di baleng wala na ako, basta sila papa, meron," he said.
Most of the time, his peanuts were sold out, thanks to his teammates, coaches, teachers, and school officials. He even sold some to rivals such as Far Eastern University-Diliman's Veejay Pre - all doing their part to make sure a promising career continued.
"'Pag binabalikan ko po yung pinagdaanan ko simula last year, umiiyak po talaga ako," he said during the interview which was done during the Baby Falcons' championship celebration.
"Only child po ako e. Family-oriented po talaga ako. Gusto ko pong maiahon sa kahirapan ang parents ko."
Basketball, however, was never far from his other activities. In Season 86, the period he earned Mythical Five Selection, the playmaker averaged 12.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds. His all-around game helped the Baby Falcons win their first championship since 1993 with an overall record of 16-2.
His shining moments were witnessed by his parents who made it a point to watch his every game, even if it means traveling from their home in Pampanga and then commuting back.
"Etong season po, wala silang pinalampas na laban ko kahit nagko-commute sila. Kahit ginagabi na sila, kahit nagagalit na nga ako kasi nakikita ko rin yung pagod nila, nandun pa rin sila," he said.
Big decision for Tebol
A big decision lies ahead: which college or university to play for after high school. Whatever decision it will be, Tebol said he hopes his parents will agree as this decision will also be for them.
"Lalo ngayong finals, sinet aside ko po muna lahat ng problema ko para maganda ang tapos ko. Para sa college, maging maganda pa rin yung takbo ng karera ko at kahit papaano, makatulong sa parents ko. Gustong-gusto ko na rin po kasing makabili kami ng sarili naming bahay. Tumatanda na po kasi sila kaya ginagawa ko lahat para sa kanila," he said.
Selling peanuts may be in the present, but if the stars align for Tebol, the future looks bright. Whether the family will continue with their small peanut business when Tebol plays college, remains to be seen. But the Garcias are hoping it will not be peanuts for life.
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