LOSER.
For years, Luis Pablo has been haunted by that word being attached to his name.
For all his brilliance from the high school level where he won the NCAA Juniors MVP with La Salle Green Hills to his early years in the collegiate ranks, the one thing that has eluded the 6-foot-7 big is the championship.
With the Greenies, his LSGH side could not overcome the top-seeded Letran Squires and surrendered the NCAA Season 98 juniors baskeball title.
Pablo's first year in the seniors level also mimicked that heartbreak, as he wallowed on the University of the Philippines bench, watching the Fighting Maroons lose to La Salle in UAAP Season 86 in 2023.
Even when he jumped ship and joined the Green Archers a year later, he was on the wrong end of history, as the Taft side bowed to State U in Season 87, helpless during his redshirt year.
READ: Pablo out to prove worthy to stand alongside Amos, Baclaan, Cortez, Daep
And Pablo wouldn't deny that there were moments in the tense Season 88 Game Three that the fear of failure crept up on him.
"Sobra yung takot, yung feeling na baka ito na naman. Start pa lang ng game, ang bigat na eh," he shared, giving a glimpse on the pressure that weighed down on him and the rest of the green-and-white in the winner-take-all tiff.
But through it all, Pablo stuck with his guns and more importantly, his team.
"In-embrace ko lang yung pressure kasi hindi mo rin masasabi kung kailan ka ulit makakalaro sa Finals. And nakita ko sa teammates ko na lahat sila palaban, kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko na walang reason para mag-doubt ako," said the Imus, Cavite native.
The thrill of victory
Numbers may not show it, as he only had four points, three steals, and two assists in the clincher, but Pablo did all he could in his 23 minutes on the floor, as he tried his best to finally exorcise his demons.
READ: La Salle a champion anew after besting UP in title trilogy
And when the buzzer sounded, the goal was finally achieved: La Salle is back in top and Pablo is finally a champion.
"Sa wakas. Sobrang sarap," shared the 21-year-old, letting his emotions out in basking in the glory of this victory.
"Na-realize ko lang na grabe si Lord, na 'pag talagang nagtrabaho ka, naging honest ka sa trabaho mo, naging consistent ka sa lahat ng challenges na ibabato sa'yo at ilaban mo lang at wag kang mag-give up, ibibigay Niya din. 'Di Siya magbabato ng challenge na hindi mo kakayanin."
This conquest just makes all of those hardships and sacrifices worth it for Pablo, who noted, "Dinelay lang ni Lord."
"Parang sinabi Niya na 'di pa ako ready, na maghintay pa ako at magtrabaho lang. And ang sarap na pagbalik ko [after residency], sa first year ko sa La Salle, champion na agad," he said.
And with that, Pablo is now, without a doubt, a winner.
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