THE University of the Visayas’ (UV) star forward Jancork Cabahug is turning the page and moving on to a “new chapter” of his life as he announced that he is leaving the Green Lancers and moving to Manila to join the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
A versatile 6-foot-3 forward whose game and character has grown and developed inside the Green Lancers camp, Cabahug said he is ready to venture out and embrace the opportunity to play in a different league after playing in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) for seven years.
“I am grateful for all these experiences I have had with the team, but an opportunity was presented to me that gave me a chance to play and gain new experiences in a different league, with a different intensity and competitiveness,” said Cabahug in a talk with SunStar Cebu.
Cabahug is considered to be one of the cornerstones of the powerhouse Green Lancers squad that has won three of the last four collegiate titles in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi). With Cabahug providing significant numbers, UV was also able to make waves in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, finishing in second in 2018.
However, with the Cesafi cancelling its 2020 season, Cabahug said the opportunity to be part of a red-hot Fighting Maroons squad was too great to pass up on. Cabahug’s is looking to make a name for himself in the UAAP, much like former UV stalwarts Paul Desiderio and Jun Manzo did in their time with the Diliman-based squad.
“UP presented me with the opportunity to represent our country’s top state university, and I am also very comfortable with the coaching staff and the players, since most of them know how to speak bisaya, especially the head coach, Bo Perasol,” said Cabahug.
“I am also overwhelmed of what they have shown me and my family, to make me a part of their team. I am grateful that they acknowledge my potential, and believe that I can contribute to the team’s system and hopefully help in winning a UAAP championship. Also, playing basketball with the large UP community crowd support excites me even more,” he added.
Although he will have to sit out UAAP Season 83, Cabahug is joining a stacked UP squad that already has former UAAP Most Valuable Player Bright Akhuetie and local aces Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero. Also on the team is former Cesafi Mythical Five member Conrad Catapusan.
“I feel nervous and at the same time excited. I consider this as a new chapter in my life,” said Cabahug.
UP head coach Bo Perasol explained he chose Cabahug because of the latter’s grit and hunger for success.
“I think it’s just typical of me to have a Cebuano character in each of the teams that I have handled; a player who is striving to be recognized, mostly gritty, and definitely a fighter. I see that in Jancork and every Cebuano player that I have coached,” said Perasol in a conversation with SunStar.
The gregarious forward also took the time to thank the people who helped mold him into the player and person he is today.
“I have always been grateful for a lot of things, and being part of the UV Green Lancers team is one of them. As a basketball player, it made me who I am right now and gave me the right experience to get me where I needed to go to succeed in this field,” Cabahug said. “I am grateful to the people behind the scenes, most especially to coach Gary Cortes who believed in my potential and boss Samsam Gullas for the all out support. Thank you to coach Jomags (Jonel Maglasang), coach (Jun) Pepito, coach Bongkie (Bongcaras), coach Phil (Mercader) and coach Gerald (Ylaya) for helping me grow and improve my skills in basketball. To ma’am Inday, sir RJ (Villarosa) and sir Chris (Mejarito) for your undying support in every game.”
Cabahug’s departure though, leaves the Green Lancers with huge shoes to fill, especially with promising point guard Gabriel Cometa also leaving to try his luck with the San Beda Red Lions. (JNP)