IN this day and age where collegiate players switch teams like it’s the pros, Nic Cabanero dared to be an exception.
Enduring the lowest of lows from the moment he started in University of Santo Tomas, the Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu native toughed it out and chose to stick.
Ahead of the upcoming UAAP Season 88, Cabanero has a chance to write the perfect storybook ending to his collegiate career with the Growling Tigers - touted to be one of the legitimate championship contenders in this campaign, just as the Espana school serves as host.
And for sure, the 22-year-old will do everything his power to make those predictions come true.
“Hopefully this year, our goal is to be in the championship. Yun talaga yung goal,” he told SPIN.ph. “Whatever it takes, I'll just do everything for the team.”
But before Cabanero got to this position, he confessed he almost got off the ride altogether.
“Mahirap talaga yung pinagdaanan ko because it will drain you mentally and physically,” said the former San Beda Red Cub who chose to tread his own path in joining the black-and-gold for college.
Joining a UST side picking itself up from the controversial 'Sorsogon bubble,' Cabanero flashed his potential in his rookie year in Season 84, but those numbers did not translate into wins, with the Jinino Manansala-coached squad only going 3-11.
Things went further south from there, with Bal David’s Season 85 squad only managing to pick up a solitary victory through 14 games.
It was in those moments when Cabanero thought of change, just like how more than a few other players have done across the collegiate landscape.
“Dumating din sa point na gusto kong lumipat kasi I really just wanted to win. Nandoon yung frustrations and pinagisipan ko talaga,” he said.
Yet through all those hardships, he opted to stay and not be swayed by emotions; believing that in the end, all of his sacrifices will eventually bear fruit.
“I believe in progress, the process na it's not all the time you're at the top, so you have to go dahan-dahan, gradually, and makakamit mo rin yung certain goal na inaasam mo kasi yung goal hindi naman darating agad-agad," he said.
So I think it's a process na dapat step-by-step and hindi madalian,” he furthered, adding that it helps being guided by the right support group – one that he got from his ever-supportive parents and UST Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) director Fr. Rodel Cansancio.
Thomasian through and through
And the final thing? That Cabanero is grateful for the gift of education that the university gave him.
READ: Host UST defends home court vs reigning champ UP in UAAP Season 88 opener
“What made me stay is because I just want to give back to UST on how they took care of me. Sa lahat, accommodations, allowances, the education, and of course the community. Grabe yung pagmamahal at suporta sa amin,” said the marketing management major who earned his business administration degree last June.
“Napaka-valuable din para sa akin yung pagiging student-athlete. I was able to graduate and that's the gift I got from the university. The fact that I was able to graduate as a student-athlete. Sana din ma-embrace yun ng iba pang student-athletes.”
That’s why through all of the distractions and all of those moments of doubt, at the end of the day, UST is where Cabanero’s heart is - and will always be.
“Marami akong naririnig na naglilipatan sila, saying do what's best for you,” said the 6-foot-2 slasher. “But for me talaga, loyalty is better kasi doon mo makikita na mahal na mahal ka ng school as a student-athlete.”
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