Some people carve their own path in basketball, but it’s another thing to continue in a rich family tradition.
For second-generation baller Ry dela Rosa and teammate Michael Alvarez, though, coming from a family of basketball players is more motivation than pressure as it helped them rise to the challenge.
Dela Rosa, the son of former PBA defensive stalwart Romy and brother of current Magnolia forward Rome, said watching his family members play the sport was what motivated him to try it himself.
He’s currently a player for Jose Rizal University and is tipped to lead the Heavy Bombers once NCAA action returns.
“My first sport was baseball and basketball was always there so as time passed, I got to a point where I really started to focus on basketball towards my high school year and going onwards,” dela Rosa shared on 'Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96'.
“It was all basketball from there.”
It’s almost a similar experience for Michael Alvarez.
Michael is the brother of Rich Alvarez, who not only made a name for himself in professional ranks but was also a legend in the college ranks after winning two UAAP MVPs and helping lead Ateneo to a championship.
Michael, though, admitted that there was some pressure in the beginning to follow in his brother’s footsteps but stressed his family has been his top supporter since day one.
“Having that in mind, it will be pressure because he has done so much but then they support me in my basketball (career). I just wanted to do my best to make them proud,” Michael said.
“It’s not just a family thing, it’s not just the pressure, I really love playing basketball and this is like a medicine for me. It just makes me, me. Whenever I’m on the court, I feel like a different person. I feel like myself.”
Watch their stories on GMA Synergy's 'Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA Season 96' every weekday (2:45 p.m.), Saturdays (4:30 p.m.), and Sundays (5:05 p.m.) on GTV.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News
