WITHOUT a doubt, one of the biggest fears of any player is sustaining a non-basketball injury.
They’re some of the hardest injuries to recover from, and they've prematurely ended the careers of some of the most promising athletes in the past.
Yet Kirby Mongcopa is here, about to suit up for Far Eastern University in UAAP Season 88, and about to remind everybody how good he still is.
With a hiatus as long as his, there's no telling what challenges the Dumaguete native will face, especially since he'll be debuting in a more competitive arena compared to his last.
And now his collegiate campaign is right around the corner, Mongcopa is rightfully feeling the nerves, saying, “Siguro, may pressure. Maninibago ako kasi first time ko maglaro sa collegiate basketball.”
“Two years din akong nag-stop sa basketball eh, so tignan nalang natin,” he said.
If you're wondering who Mongcopa even is, he's a homegrown product of the green-and-gold who won Finals MVP, as the Baby Tamaraws won it all in Season 85.
Then, the 6-foot-4 forward joined forces with the likes of Veejay Pre, Janrey Pasaol, Jedric Daa, Dwyne Miranda, and Luke Felipe - giving Morayta a reason to look forward to a bright future for its seniors squad filled with, as always, homegrown products.
Unfortunately, Mongcopa fractured his right leg due to a motorcycle crash in his hometown right before his supposed last season for FEU-Diliman.
And so, he was forced to the sidelines for two years, as his teammates continued to showcase their skills.
“Laging nasa isip ko na ang sarap siguro maglaro. Yun lang lagi nasa isip ko, sana makalaro na ako para makasama ko sila,” he said.
Then early this year, Mongcopa was forced to say goodbye to one of his closest friends in Pre, who packed his bags and moed to the University of the Philippines.
Been Brave, is what Kirby is doing
With its 20-year-old workhorse back in tow, though, the green-and-gold is upbeat about the follow-up to its up-and-down yet nonetheless promising showing a season ago.
As great as Pre was, FEU is adamant it has all it has to build on its 5-9 campaign last year.
“Grabe yung preparations namin para sa season ngayon kasi gusto rin namin makapasok sa Final Four, lahat kami gusto manalo,” said Mongcopa.
Their championship core of Baby Tams may have been broken, but Pasaol, Daa, and Felipe are still here, and Mongcopa is eager to bolster the seniors squad.
“Magkakasama na kami ulit. Sana yung laro namin sa juniors, ma-improve pa namin ngayon,” he hoped. “Iba naman kasi yung college compared sa juniors, pero still, magwo-work hard pa rin kami.”
“Para din ‘to sa mga last year na maglalaro sa season ngayon. Sila [Miguel] Ona, sila Cholo [Añonuevo], yung mga kuya.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
