CHICAGO - Through the years, the province of Zamboanga has produced hoopers with big PBA dreams.
Mark Barocca, RR Garcia and Rudy Linganay are just a few of the good players that have emerged from the region.
There might be another one presently incubating at the Emilio Aguinaldo Colleges (EAC) Brigadiers.
His name is Rocky Allan Lim Iraham, a 5-foot-9 point guard who rose from the adversity of a tough NCAA Season 99 to average 5.3 points, 3.3 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal per game.
With one more season of high school eligibility left, EAC juniors head coach Noy Catalan is hopeful that Iraham will have a breakout season before taking his act to the college ranks,
"He is a very good player. At saka mayroong strong work ethic," Catalan said. Once he adds more meat to his frame and works extra hard on defense, Catalan believes that Rocky can be a "complete package."
PLENTY OF PROMISE.
Beyond the measurables. Catalan points to Iraham's "high basketball IQ" as his best weapon in the tool kit. And with some fine-tuning in the aspects of court vision and feel for the game, Iraham might just go places.
In an effort to shine a light on kids that don't come from big programs, I did a little research about Rocky and found a fascinating tale.
He was raised in Zamboanga City and credits his family, especially his dad for supporting his hoops dreams. Prior to joining EAC he plucked some basketball wisdom from his coaches at Claret School of Zamboanga, Ferndale International school and the Southern City Colleges NU Nazareth School.
A typical teenager, Rocky loves playing video games when he isn't studying or practicing. And as he continues to transition to adulthood, sleep takes up a lot of his idle time.
How about his favorite player, the one he looks up to on and off the court?
"KIEFER RAVENA," HE SAYS.
Good choice given how Ravena has become a shining example to the younger generation of hopefuls who have witnessed his trajectory from Gilas cadet to Ateneo hero to PBA star and now the Japan B.League.
While he doesn't lack any confidence, Rocky understands that making the grade from student athlete to pro player is tough to navigate. And that is why he intends to give the classroom as much focus as he devotes in the playing court.
"I'll take up Business Administration," he says of his college plans.
Even if playing basketball for a living could be in the cards for him in the future, it doesn't hurt for Rocky and other student athletes to have a college diploma to complement their stats line.
In not so many words, Rocky told me that while being a good basketball player is something he aspires for, his parents constantly remind him that having great values and high character are just as important.
Amen to that.
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