WITH all sports events and social gatherings indefinitely suspended because of the Covid-19 threat, several Cebuano basketball players suddenly have a lot of time on their hands to think about what might have been, had they not chose to pursue becoming a basketball player.
SunStar Cebu took the time to pose this question to them: if you were not a basketball player right now, what job would you most likely have?
The Cebuanos gladly obliged and shared with SunStar Cebu some fascinating answers, starting with Emman Calo, who said he most likely will be a tricycle driver, in honor of his ultimate idol -- his father.
“Basin tricycle driver ko just like my anhing papa. Idol man nako ako papa gud kay tanan gibuhat jud niya para mabuhi mi tanan managsuon. Proud son of a driver jud ko,” said Calo, the former standout of the University of the Visayas who is now starring for Davao Occidental in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Former Cesafi three-point champion Tristan Albina said he most likely would have been a bank teller, a profession he came close to taking up.
“Honestly ni-apply ko sa Dumaguete City Development Bank (DCDB) before ko nag plan muadto sa UV. Unya nakapasar ko sa ila exam and final interview. Ila na gipa-process akong TOR, diploma, etc. Pero wala ko nidayon kay ganahan pa ko moduwa basketball,” said Albina, who is set to suit up for Valenzuela City in the MPBL.
A couple of players said they would pursue a business if they weren’t basketball players.
“Maybe a business man or basketball coach. Pero I can't see myself na dili ma basketball player,” said Jerie Marlon “Koko” Pingoy, the former UAAP juniors MVP.
“If dili ko ma-basketball player, akong gusto magtukod og business like resto or coffee shop,” said Darrell Shane Menina, a Cesafi Mythical Five member who is also going to play for Valenzuela City in the MPBL.
“Para maka start ko ug akong own living or should I say nga para sa akong future puhon nya para naa ra sd ko makalingawan.”
A couple of Cebuano standouts bared that they very well could have been engineers, had the call of the ball been not too enticing.
“Most likely, I would have been a mechanical engineer. I’ve always had a fascination for fixing automobile, engines, gears etc. Something that produces a tangible outcome. It was also my course when I studied at Adamson which sadly I didn’t manage to pursue because of the demands of being a varsity student,” said the “Cebuano Sniper” Patrick Jan Cabahug.
“I have always wanted to be an engineer ever since because it involves mathematics and I like solving problems. It also innovates and builds things that can make our lives easier,” shared Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol guard Joel Lee Yu.
Two former two-time Cesafi MVPs — Macmac Tallo and Enrico “Bogs” Llanto — also had different takes on their alternate careers. Tallo, who now plays for Bacolod in the MPBL, said he would have liked to become an architect.
“Sa bata pako, hilig najud ko mag design ug balay. Hilig ko mag plano for a house or building. Wala ko kahibalo if nganu or asa na nako nakuha pero feeling nako na architect ko if ever dili ko player,” said Tallo.
Llanto, for his part, said he would have liked to become a flight attendant.
“I want to see the world!” said Llanto, now a forward for the Bataan Risers.
Current Blackwater wingman Paul Desiderio has a similar inkling, as he said he would have pursued becoming a pilot.
“When I was young, I used to play a game on the computer that simulates flights. I think it's really fulfilling to bring people to their destinations,” said Desiderio, a former Cesafi Juniors MVP.
Three more Cebuano aces said they most likely would have become seamen if their basketball careers fizzled out early on.
“Maybe seaman nako karon kay after high school career nako, dapat mag nautical naman unta ko but akong papa nag push maayo nako para ipadayon ang basketball career,” said Joseph Airo Nalos, a guard of the Risers.
Talk N Text star Roger Ray Pogoy believes he would have followed in the footsteps of his father and his older brother, both of whom are seamen.
“Siguro seaman ko kay ako papa and ako kuya seaman unya ako sad mga kaliwat ug mga uncle puro pud seaman,” said the Gilas stalwart.
Will McAloney, an incoming rookie with NLEX, said he would have pursued working in a cruise ship.
“Siguro nag work ko sa cruise ship kay mao man jud na akong ganahan jud nga work mao nag HRM ko. Because gnahan ko maka travel ug lain-lain nga place,” the former University of San Carlos ace said. (JNP)