GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Jastien Dagcutan is in cloud nine after winning the Batang Pinoy 2025 boys 3x3 basketball crown for the Quezon City LGU on Thursday.
READ: Behind incoming Baby Tams, QC rules Batang Pinoy 3x3
The incoming member of the FEU-Diliman Under-19 team in the UAAP also snagged the Batang Pinoy crown in front of his family and relatives, as Dagcutan actually hails from General Santos City.
Recruited three years ago, the 17-year-old Dagcutan is slated to play for the Baby Tamaraws in the coming Season 88 senior high school basketball competition in January.
“Tubong GenSan ako,” said Dagcutan after Quezon City defeated Taguig City for the gold. “Sobrang sarap. Hindi lang sa pangalan ko. Siyempre sa pamilya ko. Inaalay ko lahat sa mga kamag-anak ko na nanonood. Parang speechless ako kasi hometown ko ‘to.”
“Sa side ng papa ko, sa side ng mama ko, nandito lahat,” he added.
A few locals also attended the game at the Holy Trinity College compound covered court when they got wind that the QC big man was actually a GenSan native.
“Marami rin nag-e-expect na tao na maglalaro ako dito. Sobrang blessed ako. Salamat talaga sa Panginoon,” he said.
Dagcutan does the work
Dagcutan admitted he was still a raw player back then in his hometown, but found time to join his father, who is a basketball coach, in his trainings with his team.
“Dati po kasi, nung bata pa ako, ‘yung papa ko, coach. So kada may training siya, gusto ko sumama sa kanya kahit hindi ako kasama sa lineup. Tapos nung lumaki na ako, hindi pa ako marunong, natataranta ako kapag hawak ko ‘yung bola. Doon ko din na-realize sa Manila na may galaw talaga ako,” he shared.
Accompanying his father in his basketball practices eventually led to an opportunity to play in Manila when he was spotted by former PBA player Gabby Espinas in 2022.
“Sumama ako sa papa ko na coach tapos may kalaban sila na Sarangani. May PBA player doon, si Gabby Espinas, tapos kinuha ‘yung number ko tapos sinend sa FEU which is si coach Denok [Miranda]. After one week, tinawagan ako,” he recalled, as Miranda was then still calling the shots for the Baby Tams.
In 2023, Dagcutan left for Manila to join FEU's storied basketball program. Two years later, he was back in his hometown to win a national crown.
“Sobrang blessed po kasi hindi ko in-expect na magcha-champion kami kasi maraming malalaki, maraming magagaling galing Maynila. Sobrang blessed lang talaga kami. Hindi ko rin in-expect ito. Pero ginalingan lang talaga namin,” he said.
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