Le grand adieu: Memoirs of a Public Health Student-Athlete

by: Marion Miñano
June 23, 2019

It was the day after Valentine’s.

The PH Men’s Basketball Team was locked in a close-game affair with a Pharmacy team hungry to avenge last year’s defeat. The game, which was riddled with as many turnovers as lead changes, was in favor of the latter due to a huge 4th quarter surge, led by their star big man Angelo Quiero.

Less than 10 seconds left on the clock. The scoreboard read 34-31.

Public Health just got out of a timeout and are expected to inbound the ball. The play was drawn up to be Kevin Aboy inbounding the ball to an open teammate. However, instead of the open man immediately shooting the ball, Aboy was to make himself open afterwards and receive a return pass from that teammate.

He was supposed to take the final shot of regulation.

The whistle sounded. The defense quickly closed on all perimeter shooters as they tried to make themselves open. As Aboy was searching for teammates, he happened to spot number 22 unmarked. Out of other possible options, he immediately inbounded the ball to his teammate. Upon receiving, the open man was quickly double-teamed with the clock running out. Due to the immense pressure brought by the double team, number 22 lost control and before he could pass it back to Kevin, the ball was back in the hands of the opposing team.

No one took the final shot.

The final buzzer sounded. The scoreboard read 34-31.

The teams took to the center, greeted each other and shook hands. Everyone on the PH squad looked grim, especially the open man who had fumbled the ball during the last play, which lead to a costly turnover. He blamed himself for the loss. If only he had taken better care of the ball, the team would have had a chance to go home with a win. If only things went differently during the last play. A big, fat ‘if’.

The player wearing number 22 happened to be senior Vince Justin Tiu.

“I was devastated kasi it was a crucial game para magkaroon pa ng shot getting into the playoffs. I feel like I failed the team and I failed myself kasi veteran na ako sa Bakbakan, hindi ko parin ma-handle yung pressure.”

Vince first picked up a basketball at the ripe age of 5 and has not stopped dribbling since. Growing up in a family of basketball aficionados, the sport is deeply engraved in his identity.

“My family is into basketball. My dad and uncles were varsity players in their respective high schools. Tapos may uncle ako na nagcocoach ng PBA D-League team right now. Na-expose ako nang maaga sa sport. Palagi rin kami naglalaro ng dad ko when I was young. I also joined my high school varsity team noong 3rd year ako.”

The 5-foot-8 forward certainly has a deep passion for the game and views it in a different manner as compared to his peers.

“There's something about the game na nakaka-amaze. Lahat ng moves and actions may reason. You just don't do it to impress the viewers. Yung shooting form, mga plays, yung dribbling they were made to score, shut down a player, create separation. I consider basketball as a field of science itself.”

When asked about his fondest memories as a student-athlete, Tiu recalled a game against the Freshie Team during his sophomore season. Despite losing a close-game affair, Vince was more than proud that he and his team were able to give their best against much formidable opponents.

“Wala yung captain and ace namin na si JC so we had to play well tapos stacked yung freshie team and deep yung bench nila. There was this one dude who was really in the zone. Nakakapasok ng deep threes so tinawag ako ng coach namin (si Kuya Roy) at pina-man sa akin. I managed to defend him well, he started to miss his threes and nasstop ko mga drives niya.”

As a student-athlete, one of his most glaring struggles was balancing his academic life and extra-curriculars. However, instead of giving up, Tiu found a new drive to keep playing with the guidance of his upperclassmen.

“Sabi ng captains namin noong lower years pa kami, yung pagsali sa team isa siyang commitment. Lahat ng teammates mo nagsacrifice ng oras at energy nila tapos ikaw hindi mo gagawin rin yun?

Unfair diba.”

Besides from being a defensive stalwart on the court, Tiu gives utmost importance to his academics and makes sure that his performance in the classroom is on par with his on-court intensity. He emphasizes that the pursuit of self-improvement is the key to giving optimal performance both as a student and as an athlete.

“You have to improve your game while studying well at the same time. Hindi naman overnight gagaling ka na agad. Tuturuan ka ng mga coaches mo, magte-train ka, at magwoworkout to see results. As a PH student rin, you have to know how you can learn more in our field.”

Now having completed his undergraduate studies, Vince takes on the challenge of being a medical student at the UP College of Medicine, where he will be hoping to participate in more seasons of Bakbakan. Looking back at a wonderful stint with the Public Health Men’s Basketball Team, he hopes to inspire younger student-athletes to keep pursuing and to rise from the ashes, despite the circumstances.

“Keep on moving forward. May mga times talaga na magkakamali kayo and people will hate you for it but you can always stand back up and learn from that mistake. Always strive to improve yourselves and don't forget to thank the people that helped you along the way. Mahirap yung journey natin as Public Health professionals. You gotta keep in mind your motivations and inspirations.”

Vince’s journey from becoming a young boy fascinated with the game of basketball to learning how to cope with the struggles that are entailed with being a student-athlete makes us realize that being a student and an athlete at the same time is no easy task and takes sheer discipline and determination. It also shines the light that whether it be a last possession error or a failed departmental exam, we should take the opportunity to learn from our personal shortcomings and use these in becoming better individuals in both academics and sports. His is just one of many stories that serve as inspiration to every student-athlete. Many are still unheard of and unnoticed.

To all graduating Public Health student-athletes, whose sweat and tears were offered for representing the college, we thank you for your time and dedication. Thank you for showing us underclassmen the discipline and resolve needed in playing the sports we so truly love. Thank you for the victories, and more so the defeats, for in failure do we truly appreciate the value of our triumphs. Let us, the younger batches, continue your legacies by representing the college with utmost pride, just as you have done during the past years. All we ask is that you continue being with us, whether in celebrating a championship win or bowing our heads due to a blowout loss. As you continue travelling down your individual paths, we will continue to cherish the things that you have taught us.

To all of you, we say; merci les aînés et adieu!