FAR Eastern University has long had a way of sending its guards out with something to remember.
The likes of RJ Abarrientos and LJay Gonzales both left their marks on the Tamaraws before carving out their own paths in the professional ranks, giving FEU another pair of guards to add to its proud basketball lineage which produced the likes of Johnny Abarrientos, Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia.
Jorick Bautista is hoping to follow in their footsteps. But with his final UAAP season winding down, the graduating Tamaraw isn't thinking too far ahead just yet.
READ: FEU officially ousts UE from contention in UAAP Season 89
“Sobrang saya naman kasi nagiging winning team na kami, like kasama kami sa conversation para sa Final Four, which is ’yun ’yung goal ko talaga this season,” Bautista told SPIN.ph.
“Last year ko na, hopefully maka-experience ng Final Four sa UAAP, ’di ba? Kasi limang taon ko, first time ko maka-experience ng ganun.”
That, more than a breakout campaign or a potential boost to his professional prospects, is what Bautista wants most.
After helping FEU put itself back in the thick of the postseason race, the 12.9-point, 2.8-rebound, 2.2-assist guard knows the Tamaraws have a chance to make his final year count.
The spotlight, admittedly, has often fallen elsewhere. Kirby Mongcopa and Mo Konateh have done much of the heavy lifting for an FEU side fighting for a Final Four berth, while Bautista has quietly gone about his work.
For him, the next step is finding the consistency to become the two-way guard coach Sean Chambers has challenged him to be.
“More on consistency, kailangan ko maging consistent,” Bautista said. “Minsan kasi in-and-out talaga, especially para kasi ’yung sabi ni Coach Sean sa akin eh, kailangan akong maging two-way guard, which is ’yun ’yung win-work out ko talaga, maging two-way guard.”
And perhaps that is what makes FEU's current run particularly fitting for Bautista as the Tamaraws have not needed one player to carry them every night.
“Sobrang saya, sobrang ganda kasi kahit sino ’yung puwedeng pumutok every game. ’Ayun ’yung maganda sa amin, hindi kami like parang ready ka agad kung sino mag-step up. Every game, merong magiging next man up kumbaga, ganun.”
Bautista has one more hope after finally reaching the Final Four: going beyond it. As for any lingering what-ifs about his final season, whether it involves more playing time or building his draft stock the way the FEU guards before him did, the graduating ace had a much simpler answer.
“What if di ako grumaduate, ’yun lang!”
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