BY John Miles Arcenal
WHEN National U's Paul Francisco lost his phone two days before facing Ateneo, he also lost something else - his distractions.
And so, with a clear mind and full heart, he looked like he can't lose on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum.
“We were about to go on a team outing to bond, go to the mall. While waiting for our new Grab, two guys on a motorcycle just swiped my phone. Probably ended up somewhere in Greenhills,” the Fil-Canadian said after he and National U bested the Blue Eagles in overtime.
READ: NU is top dog for Round 1 after OT victory vs Ateneo
Instead of dwelling on the unfortunate incident, the 6-foot-2 guard worked his hardest to get lucky once more.
And that was very much evident vs. Ateneo, as when the Bulldogs needed someone to step up in extra time, it was Francisco who was up to the task.
The 24 year old finished with 13 points, all but three coming in overtime, highlighted by three crucial triples that kept NU alive to avoid an 18-point collapse.
“I just wanted to help my team out. I was struggling all game, but my teammates and coaches kept telling me, ‘Keep shooting, you’re open, Paul,’ he said.
"So that’s what I did and I’m just glad it fell. Praise the Lord for that.”
Francisco can-and-does
Before finding a home in Sampaloc, Francisco built his game in Canada, playing for St. Clair College and later, University of Winnipeg. But despite his skills, he admitted opportunities were scarce for Filipino players in the North.
“Unfortunately, for Filipinos, we don’t pass the eye test back home (Canada),” he told SPIN.ph.
“It’s not racism or anything, but because we’re Asian, we don’t look like basketball players.”
That didn’t stop him. Through a connection between coach Leo Pujante, Jeff Napa's longtime deputy, and son Champi, who trained him in Canada, Francisco was given a shot to try out for the blue-and-gold.
“They offered me the opportunity to come over and I didn’t look back,” he said. “I just praise the Lord for bringing me here and thank the NU community for trusting me.”
With both his parents from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Francisco grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, where his love for basketball first took root.
Now, representing the country his parents once called home, he plays with pride and perspective.
For Francisco, the breakout wasn’t about taking the spotlight - it was about embracing his role.
“Coach always emphasized before I even played in the UAAP, you gotta be a star in your role,” he shared. “You can’t be a superstar on this team, but you can be a star in your role. That’s what I focus on.”
Without a doubt, his patience paid off, as he is now one of NU’s ever-reliable glue guys - the kind of player that the Bulldogs need to keep them together when things start to fall apart.
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