OF the boatloads of recruits that University of the Philippines has brought in during the offseason, Gerry Abadiano is poised to fit in the quickest.
The shifty guard from Iloilo is certainly heaven-sent for a Fighting Maroons squad in dire need of a court general after the graduation of Jun Manzo and Juan Gomez de Liano's decision to skip the next UAAP season.
That leaves Abadiano battling for minutes against holdovers James Spencer and newcomer Sam Dowd in coach Bo Perasol's backcourt rotation. But that's the least of the 5-foot-11 guard's concerns, insisting he simply wants to fit in.
"Siguro hindi magiging madali lahat sa akin," he told The Prospects Pod. "As a rookie, siyempre hindi porke't ginagamit ka sa high school at malaki yung playing time mo, same din yung gagawin sa 'yo sa college. Iba namang usapan sa college, di ba?"
For Abadiano, the key will be to stay hungry and never slack off, especially as he embarks on a new chapter of his career.
"Always ko lang iniisip na beginner's mindset. Kahit matagal ka na sa team, kahit ilang years ka na sa team, yung beginner’s mindset hindi dapat mawawala yun," he said.
That mentality has worked wonders for him before, from his days at Iloilo Sun Yat Sen High School and St. Robert's International Academy in Iloilo.
That feisty drive also led to his exemplary performance at the Palarong Pambansa and in Jr. NBA, where coach Goldwin Monteverde, then calling the shots for Adamson, discovered him. He later joined his coach at National University-Nazareth School in 2017.
"Nag-umpisa kami sa NU, hindi naman kami agad nag-Team A. Kahit nung umakyat kami from Team B, hindi naman ganoong kadali at hindi pa naman ako yung nagli-lead talaga. Mahirap siya pero kailangan kong i-embrace kasi yun yung binigay sa akin na role ni coach Gold," he reflected.
Trust the process, right? Abadiano certainly did.
"May kanya-kanyang role kami sa team and eventually, nakita ko yung chemistry ng team namin nung palapit na yung first season namin. Doon namin nakita kung gaano ka-intact yung team namin, gaano kalakas yung team namin pag nagtulungan," he said of his high school career with the Bullpups.
He won two championships in three Finals appearances for NU, including an immaculate 16-0 campaign this past UAAP Season 82.
Abadiano may no longer be in Jhocson, but learnings from his time there, as well as from Monteverde, will be valuable in his new start in Diliman as the 19-year-old lives up to his billing as UP's point guard of the future.
"Sobra kong mami-miss si coach Gold kasi parang tatay na talaga namin siya. Siya ang nag-build sa akin as a person, as an athlete, at marami siyang natulong na hindi lang sa loob ng court kundi pati na rin sa labas ng court," he said.
"Lagi kong nasa isip yung sinasabi niya lagi na every time na nahihirapan ka, mas lalo mo pang galingan and every time na may mahirap na mangyayari sa iyo, huwag kang mag-quit," Abadiano added.
"Push mo lang dahil doon natin malalaman kung hanggang saan tayo eh. Try lang nang try hanggang makuha natin yung gusto natin."
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