SOME people get to where they are now by accident or by mere stroke of luck. They are led into their destinations heavily influenced by external factors that may either later develop into an ardor for something or mere regret. For student-athlete and student-leader Lucky Ecarma, where he is now is a result of innate passion.
Watching his dad play basketball when Lucky was just a kid exposed him to the sport which he plays with a lot of heart. “My dad would let me go with him when he would play tournaments in the barangay,” he recalls, “But I really started to play basketball when I was in second grade, when I moved to a bigger school in Leyte, which had a basketball court. When classes were done, I would go straight to the court to play.”
What started off as a hobby became something more for him especially when he was about to graduate elementary school. Through years of play and practice, Lucky excelled in the sport and eventually earned a spot in the school’s varsity team. “When I reached third year high school, I was recruited to play here in Cebu for a scholarship program at the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu. By this time, I was already playing basketball at a competitive level,” he says.
Lucky is part of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors basketball team, which will be competing in the on-going Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc (Cesafi). Along with his teammates, he will test his mettle anew with top student athletes from other schools in the province. As team captain, he carries the task of keeping the team spirit healthy as well as guiding the rookies joining the team this year.
Apart from leading teammates to victory during basketball games, Lucky is also leading schoolmates in USC to do activities that would benefit them in their university life. He was elected as one of the councillors of USC’s Supreme Student Council before the close of the second semester early this year. As councillor, he is busy with other student council leaders implementing programs, especially with the entry of new freshmen to the university after two years. Since the school year has just started in USC, Lucky and his councilmates still have their hands full for future activities. Chalk another achievement for this guy who’s on his last semester in college, and with all the activities that he is involved in outside his academic life, one may wonder how he does all these without taking his studies for granted. Well, Lucky has to rely on good time management and focus in the things that must be prioritized and done. Not only do his parents constantly remind him of not letting his basketball varsity chores get in the way of his studies, he takes his responsibilities as a student seriously and with precise focus. This enables him to do the things he loves successfully and inspire his peers to do the same.