Monday, November 12, 2007 USC’s basketball prodigy is also classroom captain
SORTEST among the boys, but a trustworthy captain ball.
Thirteen-year-old Bradlet Bacaltos earned his coach’s trust to lead the University of San Carlos’s basketball team and his consistent scoring kept him the post.
The Future Basketball League’s (FBL) captain ball, from the USC-South Campus team, Bradley Bacaltos, says “Height is not a hindrance to be a good basketball player. It’s not the height that matters, it’s how you play the game.”
Five years of serious basketball, and he had proven his mettle as an MVP title holder, earning accolades as “Best in Dribbling” and “Best in Layup”.
Last Saturday, Bacaltos led the USC-SC Warriors into beating Royal Oaks during the midget game of the opening of FBL at the Don Bosco campus.
Last March, Bacaltos was also one of the representatives for the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) held in Dumaguete City and won the championship game.
Inspired by his former coach, Benjun Mendoza, he dreams to be one of the best basketball players like his idol Tracy McGrady.
At a very young age, he has made his family proud not only because of his performance in his games but of his performance in school as well.
Despite the tight schedule and heavy practices, he has managed his time and made it to the Cream Section, which is exclusive for outstanding students.
He managed to balance his time for his studies and basketball with the help of his parents who always remind him to study before and after practices.
His mother, Alma Bacaltos, who says she is his son’s number one fan, makes sure she is present in every game that he plays.
Before every game, his mother reminds him to be humble, confident, to be at his best and to pray even in the middle of the game.
Basketball runs in the family. Two other sons share the same interest. His older brother, Michael (15), has played with Bradley in the same team but had to stop because of an injury. The same happened with Bradley, but according to him, “I can still play slowly and I don’t want to miss practice and I want to show my coach that I am willing to sacrifice for the team.”
His coach, the former MVP of the USC basketball team, Cristophel Abellana, sees Bradley as someone important to the team since he is a good player, smart, well-disciplined, and Bradley knows his game well.
Coach Abellana believes that with Bradley’s skills, his dreams as a basketball star will come true.
In the seven years of mentoring, Abellana has shared his joys and has always been proud of the team and players like Bacaltos because of his dedication.
Right now, the coach is looking forward to a better and improved performance from Bacaltos as the captain ball of their team this month. (Grace Pecaoco, STC MassComm)
