IT took quite awhile for Simon Camacho to break into the Adamson line-up, but for the energetic forward, the juice is always worth the squeeze.
Camacho has already been trying out for the Falcons side since the time of Leo Austria back in 2013 but he only got his true break when Franz Pumaren came along in 2016.
“Pagdating ko ng college, gusto ko mag tryout sa Adamson pero alam ko sa sarili ko na di ko pa kaya that time. After two years, nag try out ako sa Adamson under coach Leo (Austria) pa yun. Makakapasok na sana ako nun but sakto nagpalit ng coach under coach Kenneth Duremdes so tinigil ko na rin yung pagttryout,” shared Camacho who also bared that he got offers Lyceum but opted to stay put and study in San Marcelino.
It wasn’t until 2015 when he finally gave basketball chance again.
Convinced by his mother to come back and play, Camacho pursued basketball anew and this time around, basketball smiled back at him.
“Nag give up na talaga ako sa basketball, that time sabi ko parang gusto ko na lang makatapos ng pagaral - then eto nanaman tong basketball, nanggugulo nanaman. So sabi ko, sige na nga, tignan ko lang,” said Camacho.
“Naisip ko ayaw ko na talaga eh natanggap ako so sabi ko, sige libre naman aral, para makakuha ako ng scholarship, makatulong sa parents ko. So tinanggap ko din, that time, naging team A agad ako. Season 78. Then ayun na line up ako then yun dirediretso na,” he added.
When Pumaren came along in 2016, Camacho was worried that he wouldn’t make the cut under the multi-titled head coach in Pumaren.
Little did he know that it’s with Pumaren where he’ll truly flourish.
“Yun na rin yung dinedevelop ni coach Franz sa amin, na hindi lang dapat kami umasa sa mga star players namin.. parang di naman kami pinipilit ni coach Franz na gawin yung di naman kaya,” shared the 22-year-old forward.
“Alam na ni Coach Franz na yung papagawa niya sa amin eh yung kaya lang namin.”
Now in the penultimate year of his collegiate career, Camacho is starting to turn into a reliable forward off the bench and it’s already starting to show this season.
Against the National University Bulldogs, Camacho went on an 8-2 run of his own alongside three blocks as Adamson remained unscathed in the UAAP Season 81.
“Inaantay ko lang yung game na pumunta sa akin. Inaaccept ko lang yung role na binibigay ni coach,” Camacho said.
“Nagstart lang ako sa defense, nagcconvert naman sa offense, ginagawa ko lang yung role ko sa team and dumating lang yung game sa akin.”
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