All eyes are now on Jonathan "Titing" Manalili and how he's been the steady captain of Letran’s ship in NCAA Season 101.
But before the spotlight, he was simply a three-year-old discovering his love for basketball, a moment seen firsthand by his father, Norberto Manalili, who is also known as "Titing" back home in Cebu.
Norberto remembered how his son grew from a small-town dreamer to a rising star in the country’s oldest basketball league, the NCAA, and is already making waves with the Knights only in his rookie season.
According to his father, Titing’s love for the game was so strong that he would defy rules just to play pick-up basketball at the height of the pandemic.
His dedication eventually caught the eye of current Letran coach Allen Ricardo, paving the way for the rise of — arguably — the best point guard in the collegiate scene today.
"Very proud of him kasi since birth, mga three years old siya mahilig na talaga siya maglaro, maski walang kain," Norberto told GMA News Online last Friday.
"Basketball lang talaga nasa isip niya, since pandemic, bawal maglaro, bawal lumabas pero pagtingin ko sa bahay wala na siya, tumatakas talaga hanggang gabi. Talagang ‘yung basketball, love niya, passion niya. Whatever happens, basketball talaga."
(Very proud of him because since birth, since he was three years old, he really liked playing, even if he hadn't eaten yet... Basketball is the only thing on his mind since pandemic, playing and going out was not allowed but when we looked around the house, he wasn't there. He would leave until midnight. Basketball really is hid love, his passion. Whatever happens, it's basketball.)
But Titing’s love for hoops didn’t come out of nowhere.
In fact, his father shared the same basketball fire and passion, having played amateur basketball with Crispa and San Miguel in the 1980s. And with that same basketball DNA running in his veins, Titing now carries the torch as he aims to guide the Knights back to the throne they missed the past two seasons.
"That’s true. Hinahanap namin tapos nasa court lang pala, madalas umuuwi [siya] 7 o’clock na. Since bata pa lang. Since three years old mahilig na siya sa bola. Mga bata ngayon computer, siya bola talaga," Norberto added.
"Hindi namin akalain na ganito ‘yung maaabot niya."
(That's true. We would look for him and he would just be at the court. Often, he would come home at 7 o'clock. Since he was a kid, since he was three years old, he loved playing with a ball. Kids today like computer, but he always loved ball... We never thought he would reach this.)
Norberto’s only wish for his star son is simple: complete his education, as a basketball career doesn’t last forever.
"Continue believing in God. Si Coach Allen talaga kumuha sa kanya sa Cebu so respect sa coaches, kahit ano ang ipagawa," he said.
"At most important ay kailangan makatapos ng pagaaral kasi basketball until 15 years pero ‘yung eskwela mo at ‘yung knowledge mo forever na ‘yan, hindi na ‘yan mawawala."
(Continue believing in God. Coach Allen was the one who recruited him in Cebu so respect the coaches, do whatever is asked... And most important, he needs finish his schooling because basketball until 15 years, but school and knowledge will last forever, that will never go away.)
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
