Justine Sanchez is no stranger to the NCAA Final Four.
Ever since his high school days to his first two years in college with San Beda University, the 6-foot-5 wingman had reached this point some would only dream of.
A year after completing his residency, Sanchez is back in the Final Four, only this time with a different team and a different role as he emerges as one of the leaders of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Season 100.
And Sanchez embraces the bigger and heavier role bestowed on him.
"Mas kailangan ko ng maraming pasensya sa teammates ko na kakapasok lang. Pinapa-realize ko lang sa kanila ano ‘yung NCAA kasi high school at college na ako naglalaro dito so alam ko na kahit papaano ‘yung takbuhan ng laro," Sanchez told GMA News Online.
"Sana ‘wag lang din sila magsawang makinig sa akin and hindi naman ako nagkukulang sa pagiging vocal sa team eh. Kahit sa practice at sa game, lagi akong nagsasalita."
The last time the 23-year-old cager reached the semifinals, he was still considered as one of the young guns of the Red Lions with the likes of James Kwekuteye, JB Bahio, Peter Alfaro, and Damie Cuntapay leading the way during their Season 98 campaign.
Before that, Sanchez and the Red Lions also reached the Season 97 Final Four but similarly, failed to reach the finals round.
Now that he's back in a very familiar territory, Sanchez is shooting for the stars.
He wants to replicate what he had accomplished in high school when he, alongside current teammate Tony Ynot and current Red Lion Yukien Andrada, delivered a title for the San Beda Red Cubs in NCAA Season 95 juniors tournament in 2019.
"Gagawin ko lang ‘yung best ko kasi history ‘to, Season 100. Gusto kong makuha ‘yung championship. Tapos na ako do’n sa Final Four eh," he added.
"Gusto ko champion naman."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
