Tommy Olivario was at a loss for words not only because Colegio de San Juan de Letran copped its third straight title with a hard-fought conquest of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA Season 98, but also because it made him the winningest Knight to date.
"Ano bang salita ang puwede kong masabi. Wala, ang hirap e," an emotional Olivario said.
[What words can I say? None ... it's difficult.]
Olivario joined Letran in 2015 as a rookie and was part of that year's champion team behind stars Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz with then-head coach Aldin Ayo. But he was not able to play the following year due to an ACL, missing their Season 92 campaign.
He then came back in 2017, but was again forced to sit out the next season due to an ACL. Now healthy and all, Olivario played crucial role in Letran's three-peat journey from Season 95 to 98 to earn himself his fourth title, which is the most for any Letran cager.
For Olivario, helping the Muralla team cop its three-peat feat--its second since joining the league---is his way of paying the school back for giving him the break.
"Sobrang thankful ako sa Letran kasi hindi mangyayari 'to kung 'di ako napunta dito tsaka kinupkop nila ako, sila 'yung nag-alaga sa akin," he added.
"Parang ito na 'yung balik ko sa kanila."
In his last game for Letran, Olivario poured it all in as he stepped up for their embattled team captain Fran Yu, who didn't see action in Game 3 following a suspension that stemmed from a disqualifying foul he sustained in Game 2.
"Naramdaman kasi namin na para talaga sa amin 'tong larong 'to tsaka pinaghandaan talaga namin kaya nakuha namin 'to. Ang sarap sa feeling." — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
