MARK Nonoy admitted that he looked up to guys like Ricci Rivero and Juan Gomez de Liaño back in his high school days.
"Syempre kasi idol ko din yung mga yun eh. Sa TV ko lang sila nakikita dati," the gangly rookie said.
But with University of Santo Tomas facing the University of the Philippines on Saturday in the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball tournament, he knew he couldn't get starstruck.
"Ngayon na nakalaban namin sila, nag-compete kami at natalo namin sila. Yun ang naging motivation namin this season," he said after the Growling Tigers' 85-69 whipping of the Fighting Maroons.
Nonoy's attitude was reflective of the statement coach Aldin Ayo uttered when the two teams met in the offseason during the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.
Back then, the feisty Sorsogon-born mentor urged his players to shake off their awe after UST lost to UP, 89-72, and know that once they're on the court, they're all the same.
"I told them to have a sense of pride in what they do. Sinabihan ko yung players kanina na karamihan sa atin, galing sa probinsya tapos pag naglaro na tayo rito at may nakita tayong medyo maputi, medyo maporma, na-iintimidate na. Pag yung mga players na kalaban nila maraming followers sa Instagram, medyo na-starstruck e. Dapat hindi ganun," Ayo said previously.
Ayo doubled down on those declarations and was proud with how his wards took those words to heart.
"While I was talking to the kids, we have that connection sa eye contact pa lang. I told them to learn from this and make sure na next time, hindi na mangyari ito," he said. "They learned from that experience. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, nakinig yung mga bata."
And Nonoy typified that shift, with the super rookie not only picking himself up from that forgettable experience but also bouncing back from a horrid start to this collegiate career, lighting up with 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
"Nandyan yung trust nila coach sa akin na kaya kong i-overcome yung jitters sa sarili ko. Tinulungan nila ako mag-adjust na hindi kabahan at hindi masobrahan sa pagiging excited," he said.
"Sumandal lang kami sa sistema ni coach. Kung ano maitutulong namin sa court, yun lang yung gagawin namin. Kung ano yung rules na binigay ni coach sa amin, yun lang yung tatakbo namin sa court."
Nonoy also has to understand that as fancied as most of his foes are in the UAAP, he himself is already a budding superstar of his own -- one who has the full support of the whole España community.
"May kaba pa din kasi iba na ito, big arena na ito. Pero yung suporta ng UST community, nandyan sila sa likod namin at hindi kami iiwan kahit ano mangyari. Hindi ko iniisip kung gaano kadami yung tao, marami o kaunti. Basta gawin lang namin yung pinapagawa ni coach sa amin. Yun lang yung iniisip namin," he said.
Soon enough, he'll also draw younger guards who'll also be starstruck to see him in the future.
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.
