FOR over two decades, Chris Hubilla carried the weight of abandonment, losing his family at a very young age.
Just by himself, he powered through his childhood, going from home to home in order to survive while taking solace in basketball which eventually led him with the Mapua Cardinals.
READ: 'Ampon ng bayan' Chris Hubilla finds not just a home but a family at Mapua
And during his rookie year's sweetest moment in a hard-fought championship for the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament, a far-fetched reunion happened as his team sponsored the flight of his father from Sorsogon to watch him play for the first time ever.
Grace over grudge
In a profound act of resilience, not a single ounce of resentment came into Hubilla's mind, he's just happy to have his dad by his side in his young career's most precious feat yet.
"Ngayon lang siya nakanood, nandito siya tapos champion kami, sobrang saya ko lang," he shared with SPIN.ph on Saturday.
Zaldy, his father, added: "Kahapon, kanina lang ako dumating, ngayon ko lang siya napanood, sobrang saya."
His father, a fisherman by trade, admitted that Chris had it tough growing up and part of it is because of his negligence. Chris himself shared in past interviews that his father attended to his other family, leaving his fate on the goodness of their neighbors in Sorsogon.
"Totoong nahirapan siya bata pa lang, nung panahon, walang-wala kami, pero ginalingan niya magbasketball. Masaya akong napanood ko siya," he said.
Road to reconciliation
The younger Hubilla turned emotional as the title run meant more to him now because his dad was with him to celebrate it, a dream he's long forgotten.
"Simula bata ako, wala pa si tatay, hindi ko siya nakasama pero ngayon nandito na siya oh, tagal ko hinintay to," he said.
"At ngayong kasama ko siya, gusto ko iparating sakanya na willing akong patawarin siya na wala siya dati at love na love ko sila."
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.
