UNLIKE his more famous sisters Jaja and Dindin whose spots in the UAAP were already cemented long before they reached college, Gelo Santiago had to take a different path before making it to the country’s top flight collegiate league.
Though a multi-sport athlete back in high school as he dabbled in track and field and volleyball before eventually committing to play basketball, Gelo didn’t have the hype nor the name recall his two superstar sisters had when they were on the come-up.
But that didn’t deter Santiago from realizing his dreams as he looks to step out of the shadow of his sisters, and carve his own path in National University.
Humble beginnings
Before bannering for the blue and gold in the UAAP Season 87, Santiago started out his career for the Letran Squires, and his role couldn’t have been farther from his sisters who were already sought after volleyball stars as high school girls for UST.
His role in high school? Defend. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Sa Letran ang main role ko is to play defense, defender lang ako that time. Wala talagang score, kumbaga kung may main guy na kalaban sa akin pinapaguard.” Santiago shared.
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And unlike his sisters who made the highly-talked about transfer to National University back then, he didn’t have any UAAP suitors waiting for him upon graduating high school, at least not yet.
Instead, he joined Centro Escolar University – then being coached by his sister Dindin’s husband Chico Manabat and that’s where he started to get his footing in basketball.
“Sa CEU naman iba naman yung confidence ko dun eh. Binigyan akong confidence ni coach Chico, ng time, binigyan niya ako ng break sa CEU.” he shared.
“Dun ko din na workout yung offense ko, yung confidence ko sa bawat laro na pag open tira ganyan. Yun yung naworkout ko sa CEU na naturo sa’kin ni Coach Chico, nabigyan ako ng break tapos yung confidence sa laro.”
Through his newfound confidence, Gelo became a standout player for the Scorpions Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL, now known as UCAL), averaging 15.4 points and 4.6 rebounds.
His performance lifted the Scorpions to their second championship in the UCBL where he also snagged the MVP award and a Mythical Five spot, taking the attention of his head coach's good friend and current Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa.
To be a Santiago
While the Santiago name is already a staple in all of NU’s athletic programs, Gelo is resolute in carving his own identity in the collegiate basketball scene and onto hopes of going pro.
For him, he doesn’t take being a ‘Santiago’ in NU as an added pressure, but as an inspiration to show up and deliver for the school, like his sisters did during their time with the Lady Bulldogs.
“No pressure naman sa kanila, support pa’rin sa akin and sila din yung nagpupush sa akin na kahit anong mangyari, be ready lang kahit sabihin mong hindi ka nagagamit always ready lang, play hard lang palagi.” he said.
“Goal ko din talaga na gumawa ng sarili kong name. Dito sa UAAP pag-akyat ng pro, siyempre iba pa rin talaga pag nakagawa ka ng pangalan na nasundan mo din yung mga yapak ng ate mo.”
Slowly but surely, he’s getting there.
Though getting only spot minutes for most of the season, Santiago made the most out of his extended playing time by playing his best game in an NU uniform in their upset win over the second-standing UP Fighting Maroons.
In the 67-47 victory, he chipped in a productive eight points and five rebounds while netting a team high +20 on the +/- rating in 17 minutes, meaning that the team plays a lot better each time he’s on the court.
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While it’s been a trying season to say the least for the Bulldogs, Santiago marvels at the undying support from the NU community, from the time they squeaked past Ateneo which had head coach Jeff Napa in tears, to even now where a semis spot looks bleak for them.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa NU community kasi kahit nags-struggle kami, na wala kami sa taas nasa baba kami patuloy silang nakasupport lalo nung time sa MOA noon.,” he said.
“Grabe paglabas palang namin kinilabutan kaming lahat kumbaga kahit anong mangyari nakasuporta pa’rin sa amin yung NU community, napaiyak din si coach Jeff that time.”
With only a year of playing eligibility left, he is determined to iron out all flaws along with the team and be remembered not as the young brother of the famed Santiago sisters, but a player who shed blood, sweat and tears and made the most out of the opportunity handed out to him.
“Syempre every time, every year, every month kailangan mag-iimprove ka eh kumbaga work hard lang palagi para mas mag-grow ka kumbaga yung maturity sa loob ng court, decision-making,” he said.
“Wala, wala akong pakialam kung masaktan ako, buwis buhay lang palagi every game, all out. Play hard lang palagi.”
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