DREAM come true.
That is the feeling of Adrian Nocum after the Rain or Shine guard was called up by Gilas Pilipinas to beef up the all-PBA team for the 20th Asian Games.
“Sarap sa pakiramdam,” Nocum told a handful of reporters on Wednesday morning hours before the Philippine team left for Korea to resume its preparation for the Asiad.
READ: Bolick makes Gilas comeback, shows way for PH in Asian Games
Even though he is fast becoming one of the rising stars with his strong showing for the Elasto Painters, the 27-year-old Nocum said he feels honored since there are still a lot of players who are also capable of becoming part of the national squad.
“Lagi kong sinasabi, sobrang blessed. Sobrang daming magagaling dito sa PBA. Mas malaki, mas matangkad, mas talented, mas beterano, pero isa tayo sa napili para makapaglaro,” he said.
Nocum’s wife Shekinah detailed on her Facebook how her husband had wanted to be part of Gilas dating back to his days as a collegiate player with Mapua.
“Six years ako, college days mo pa lang, and I still remember you telling me how you wanted to play for the country someday,” she wrote in her message to her husband. “Back then, it was just a dream we talked about habang naka-lockdown tayo.”
“Fast forward to today… we’re living the very moment we once only imagined,” she added. “Banat para sa Pilipinas.”
Nocum's dream comes true
The dream became reality, as Nocum joins Robert Bolick, RJ Abarrientos, Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, Sedrick Barefield, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Zavier Lucero, Don Trollano, Brandon Bates, and, possibly Justin Brownlee, in their defense of the Asian Games gold.
“Isa rin ito sa pangarap ko nung napunta ako sa PBA,” the athletic 6-foot guard said. “Napapanood ko na sila na makapaglaro din sa Gilas, na ma-represent mo rin ‘yung bansa. Sobrang blessed din talaga na mapasama dito.”
Nocum was so thankful for the Philippine team call-up that he also messaged his former coaches, including his days with the Cardinals in Randy Alcantara to now with the Elasto Painters in Yeng Guiao.
“Nagpasalamat ako sa mga naging coach ko sa Mapua. Nag-message ako sa kanila. Sabi ko na sobrang pasasalamat ko sa kanila na naging parte sila ng journey ko sa basketball. Sa sistema nila, nadala ko hanggang PBA. Coach Yeng nag-message din ako. Talagang hindi rin ako makapaniwala na kasama ako na nagrerepresent ng bansa natin,” he said.
“Coach, gusto ko lang magpasalamat. Dahil sa inyo, hindi ako makakasama dito,” he added in recalling his message to Guiao, himself a former Gilas head coach.
Guiao responded to Nocum’s message, with the former reminding the latter living by the very name of the clothing brand that he created and recently launched.
“Sabi lang niya sa akin, ‘No pressure.’ ‘Yun nga ‘yung binebenta ko. Kasi pumunta siya noon (sa launch),” Nocum said of Guiao.
“Sabi niya, proud ako sayo, make us proud, pakita mo ‘yung magagawa mo, and no pressure.”
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