Late bloomer big man of Central Luzon has PBA dreams

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – As Central Luzon took on Eastern Visayas in the secondary boys’ basketball tournament of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa on Thursday, May 7, a certain athlete stood out in the eyes of many spectators.

Sure, he was lanky and at times uncoordinated – the kind of growing pains you’d expect from a 6-foot-8 menace who’s played the game for only 4 years. But his height, defensive presence, soft shooting touch were hard to miss, playing a part in leading his team’s close victory.

There were times when he looked dominant, as his opponents couldn’t keep him off the boards and in the paint, where he scored with ease once underneath the basket, which is almost by the height of his head.

Jeremiah Pangalangan has a year of high school remaining, but the 16-year-old is already garnering calls from universities who are eager to recruit him once he joins the collegiate basketball ranks.

“UST, Ateneo, San Beda at tsaka (and) La Salle,” Pangalangan listed down the list of schools that expressed their interest. But the decision has already been made. “Choice ko po (my choice is) La Salle,” he told Rappler.

He chose La Salle for two reasons. First, “Maganda po kasi (it’s great),” he said. And next, the Angeles City, Pampanga-standout plans on taking up Engineering.

“Engineering kasi po yung tatay ko, gusto ko siya i-follow,” he said.

(My dad took up Engineering, and I want to follow his path.)

Pangalangan’s main dream is to make it to the PBA, but if that’s not possible, he would like to follow the footsteps of his father.

The Centro Fidei High School star has always been close with his parents, and calls them his main inspiration.

“Number one, family,” he said about what motivates him. “Talagang todo suporta ang family ko. Lahat po binibigay nila para sa akin.”

(My family gives me their full support. They give everything to me.)

“Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, wala ako.”

(If not for them, I would’t be here.)

Pangalangan started playing hoops at the age of 12, which is older than the typical starting age for kids in the Philippines.

“Kasi po, nung pinanganaak ako, late bloomer ako. Hindi ako nagsasalita,” he said about why that is, including why he’ll be graduating high school a year older than most of his batch mates.

(Because, when I was born, I was a late bloomer. I couldn’t speak right away.)

But he’s worked hard to improve his game, which will land him a spot in the UAAP. And like his idol Calvin Abueva, who also came from Pampanga, he hopes to make it to the pros one day.

– Rappler.com