Renzo Subido: From Palaro to the UAAP

Naveen Ganglani

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Before Renzo Subido made the La Salle basketball squad, he was a mainstay of the NCR region's Palarong Pambansa squad. Naveen Ganglani chronicles his long run at Palaro

PALARO TO ANIMO. Renzo Subido, seen here during the SLAM Rising Stars Challenge, got his start at Palaro and has parlayed it into a college career. Photo by Marlon Bernabe/BurnSports

MANILA, Philippines – In the Philippines, there comes a point in almost every boy and girl’s life when they ought to make a decision that would go on to alter the rest of their existence. After graduating high school, 16, 17, and 18-year-old kids make a commitment on where they would prefer to take their collegiate education. Some decide to go to La Salle, Ateneo, or University of the Philippines, while others may choose to earn a degree in alternate institutions like the University of Sto. Tomas, San Beda College, or University of Asia and the Pacific, among others.

A few months back, one certain DLSU Zobel high schooler was at a critical juncture of his being; in the middle of a selection process that would have certain ramifications on his future. Renzo Subido, one of the top amateur basketball players in the country, was faced with the option of taking what some would call the “Jeric Fortuna route,” where he would trade green for gold and suit up for the UST Growling Tigers in college, or continue his playing days at a De La Salle establishment, even if it meant uncertainty when it comes to playing time.

Eventually, with the help of his family and trusted advisers, the speedy and crafty playmaker chose the latter, opting to continue wearing the green-and-white colors as he looked to improve his craftsmanship under the tutelage of champion head coach Juno Sauler. 

Subido, worried not only about his hoops career but also what lied ahead beyond the realms of the basketball court, chose Taft over Espana for educational purposes, and the rest was history. 

The media got their first view of Subido’s capabilities during the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, which featured the top 24 high school basketball players in the country at the Gatorade Hoops Center on March 29. Though the former DLSZ point guard did not score much, he did, however, impress many pundits with his quickness, dexterity, and ball-handling, making some of them believe that he belongs at the collegiate level. Still, a number of people worry that he may not crack La Salle’s guard rotation, which already composes of a couple of other talented playmakers that were part of the team’s title-winning roster last season.  

That seemed to be the case last Saturday in the Green Archers’ first game at the 2014 FilOil Preseason Tournament, as Subdio did not see a single minute of action while Coach Sauler gave playing time to the likes of Julian Sargent and Terrence Mustre. Nonetheless, the upcoming Engineering major is expected to showcase his talents to the country sooner than later, which will serve as his try-out to make the team’s final lineup for the 2014 season of the UAAP.

As Subido spends the next few days hustling, grinding, and striving for a roster slot, the 2014 Palaro Pambansa games simultaneously take place. Once again, the best young athletes from the country will participate in various competitions in order to exhibit their expertise to the thousands sure to be present during the contests. Many of the greatest Filipino sports performers have placed a stamp during their respective tenures in the competition, and it will be interesting to see which young standouts likewise do the same from May 4-10 in Laguna.

The inventory of collegiate competitors – UAAP and NCAA – who have taken part in the Palaro games is an intriguing catalog. Former UAAP Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe ameliorated his legend in the basketball matches, along with other notables such as Almond Vosotros, Arvie Bringas, Yutien Andrada, and many more, helping them draw the attention of schools that would eventually come visiting for recruitment purposes.

Renzo Subido dribbles the ball up court during the SLAM Rising Stars Classic. Photo by Marlon Bernabe/BurnSports

Subido was no exception. Arguably one of the most experienced Palarong Pambansa alums ever, the spitfire point guard engaged in epic hoop battles in the games, which he was kind enough to chronicle to me a few days ago, just as he was about to get his first taste of college basketball.

See, for Subido, making trips around the Philippines to play ball with numerous high school stars served as a training ground for him to improve his game. It also gave him the opportunity to hone his talents further, helping him make a name for himself in the country’s basketball community. Not every moment was gracious; there were heartbreaking defeats, painful injuries, and various bumps along the road. But with each season of Pambansang Palaro, Subido also managed to produce new memories and lessons that he carries with him up to this day, both on and off the hardwood. 

From Palaro Pambansa to the UAAP, Renzo Subido’s Journey: a tale that begins nearly six years ago.

Year One

“My first experience with Palaro was when I was in grade six,” stated Subido, as he recalled what it was like, as a young teenager, to get to travel across the country in order to play the game he loves. “I played for the NCR team. It was memorable because it was in Puerto Princesa, Palawan City.”

Subido, a youngling who spent most his free time playing ball and doing other things boys his age were invested in, was absolutely thrilled at the adventure he was about to embark on. However, to fully appreciate the values of his trip, the speedy athlete felt that he needed to spend most of his time with his comrades, as they looked to prepare for the competition, similar to how a brotherhood develops between soldiers at war prior to taking the battlefield.

“My mom went with me and she wanted me to stay at the hotel where she stayed,” he said, talking about how bonding with his teammates was more important to him than the comforts of sleeping on a luxurious bed. “But I begged her to let me sleep with my teammates who were quartered in a public school.”

The time spent between Subido and his teammates seemed to have worked, as the NCR team barged its way to the semifinal round, beating up on its opponents along the way by exhibiting absolute dominance.

“The NCR team trounced all opponents with winning margins of around 30 points,” according to Subdio, whose club’s next target were the tall and physical boys from Central Luzon.

Confident and talented, NCR entered the game with a lot of confidence despite the physical disadvantages presented by their matchup. They had blown out adversaries over and over again to lead them to that point, where they were one more victory away from a finals berth.

Renzo Subido drives to the rim during the SLAM Rising Stars Challenge. Photo by Marlon Bernabe/BurnSports

However, the disparity in physicality proved too daunting of a task, as Subido’s squad found its way out of tournament earlier than they expected. Nevertheless, not everything went to waste, as the NCR team ended its tournament bid on a high note, while the starting point guard was acknowledged for his individual brilliance as well. Overall, it was a good trip.

“In the semis, we faced a much older and bigger Central Luzon team who eliminated us. We then played for third place against Northern Mindanao. I was awarded with a Mythical Team selection and was awarded the three-point king,” said Subido, whose confidence reached a notch higher following his memorable first stint at the Palaro games.

Though the NCR grade school boys failed to bring home the gold – the high school team, led by Buenafe, Bringas, Andrada, and Vosotros of San Sebastian, attained first place – the experience they obtained from jousting with other top high school ballers in the country was an experience unlike any other – something that would improve their game.

Subido may have fallen short of leading NCR to a title, but that wasn’t going to hinder his faith. He promised to return the next season an even better player.

He promised to return a guy who wouldn’t fail his team again.

And the next time he would be at Palaro Pambansa, he would not be denied.

The Sweet Taste of Victory

During the SLAM Rising Stars contest, the incredibly agile point guard exhibited supreme competitiveness, which helped his squad get back in the game. That competitiveness, along with his supreme quickness, he says, stems from his grandfather: Pedro Subido, a two-time Olympian and the former coach of the Philippine National Track and Field team. Thanks to grandpa’s genes, the young Subido proclaims he has a “natural gift of speed.” And it would be safe to assume he isn’t trying to fool anyone.

Renzo’s father and Pedro’s son, meanwhile, though not an Olympian, was also gifted and well educated with the game of basketball. That was why in 2010, it was him who traveled with Renzo to Tacloban City as his son’s trainer in his second Palarong Pambansa stint.

The bitter feeling of losing to Central Luzon in 2009 stuck with Subido, making him more dedicated than ever to claim the title a year after his visit to Palawan. Now bigger, quicker, and better, Subido felt he was more equipped to lead NCR to a championship finish after coming two games short 12 months prior. But things didn’t get off to a great start, as NCR dropped its first contest to a Western Visayas team led by someone whom Subido would one day call his teammate: Kib Montalbo of Bacolod City, who was also one of the best prospects in Philippine basketball at that time.

“Our first game was against Western Visayas led by Kib Montalbo. Our team lacked size but we were a run-and-gun type of team. WV defeated us in our first game but we clawed our way back to the winner’s bracket, which was why we faced WV again in the finals.”

It was as if the fates had aligned. Two teams so evenly matched up with two point guards that were making a name for themselves in the games. The expectations entering the affair were tremendous and, needless to say, the show put on by both clubs did not disappoint, topped off by one of the greatest and most clutch moments ever in Palaro Pambansa history.

“It was a seesaw battle in the championship game. In the last eight seconds, WV was up by one. We had no time-outs left so my dad just had to make signals for me on what to do,” storied Subido.

A grade seven kid carrying the weight of a region on his shoulders was handed the reins to the team, with a multitude of eyewitnesses at full alert. Eight seconds remained. Eight seconds were the difference between glory and having to wait another agonizing year in order to get retribution.

“When the ball was handed to me, I drew the defense towards the top of the keyhole, and then I drove hard, slicing through the defense of their tall line-up. I then found myself under the basket with four seconds left.”

What happened after? 

“We would go on to win the championship, and I was named the MVP,” beamed the young-and-talented prospect. 

Ah, victory was sweet.

The Painful Ending

Subido skipped the games in 2011, but returned the year after en route to winning another championship. Together with the core of Letran, and led by Rey Nambatac and Malayan high school star JJ Alejandro, the guys from NCR defeated Calabarzon, represented by the San Beda Red Cubs, to reign supreme in the basketball tourney.

Renzo Subido chases down a loose ball during the 2013 Palarong Pambansa game against CAR. Photo by Kevin Dela Cruz/Rappler

In 2013, Subido got close to winning a third straight Palarong Pambansa championship, though the road to doing so turned out to be the toughest hurdle he would ever have to get by. It was a worthy challenge for his last ever go around at the national games, and he was looking for a fantastic way to go out on top.

“In 2013, I again went back to Palaro in Dumaguete together with San Sebastian. We faced Calabarzon, again represented by the San Beda Red Cubs, in the semis,” he shared. “That matchup was very memorable because I played a stellar game against an SBC team that just won the Jr. NCAA championship. They were led by Arvin Tolentino.”

Tolentino, whom Subido played against in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, was arguably the most highly coveted high school prospect from the batch of 2013-2014 outside of Thirdy Ravena. Both guys, along with former NU Bullpup Hubert Cani, have decided to take their talents to Katipunan to play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles, which, needless to say, doesn’t exactly get along with the De La Salle Green Archers.

“I just had a great three-point shooting day,” he said.

Subdio, who at that time had not come to a conclusion on where to play college ball, was having the game of his life, he mentioned. As three-pointer after three-pointer swished through the net, demoralizing the San Beda boys of Calabarzon, the goal of making it to the finals was slowly but surely coming to fruition.

His team would end up winning, although it was bittersweet, considering that certain repercussions came to light. 

“I badly sprained my left foot during the contest,” mentioned Subido, who did not succumb to the pain and mustered enough courage and will to participate in the last match of the tournament.

HIS last ever game at Palarong Pambansa.

However, there would be no happy ending.

“In the finals, we played host region Central Visayas. Playing with an injured and badly swollen foot was really a nightmare, and we lost to CV.”

And just like that, the Palarong Pambansa games became a thing of the past for Renzo Subido. No, he did not get the championship celebration he was aiming to conclude his career with, but it was a hell of a ride nonetheless.

The Palaro Tradtion

The Palaro games will always hold dear to Subido, who says his experience at the contests helped shape the players he is today: someone who has the capability to represent one of the most prestigious universities with a historical basketball program over the next few years in the UAAP.

The tournament, he added, provides young, aspiring hoop junkies a launching pad to display how talented they are, which was the case for the incoming college freshman. Furthermore, it was also a time when Subido first experienced what it felt like to be somewhat of a celebrity.

“I could say that it was because of the Palaro that I made a name for myself among players in different parts of the country,” he says.

He added: “Modesty aside, every postgame, a number of co-athletes would pose for photos with me. Some would ask for my jerseys – including game officials – which led to my mom asking where my jerseys went when I headed back home to Manila.”

Now, as Subido indulges in a new phase of his life – in basketball and education – he can’t help but look back and admire the Palaro episode of his career. It helped him realized how significant team bonding really is, and how competition and passion could be the difference makers in driving a player to want to become the greatest he can be. 

All those long-distance trips, the locker room laughs and jokes, team dinners and bonding events, three-pointers, game-winning shots: they were essential in paving the way for the path he is currently on.

Subido’s journey will always remain one of the best fables in the history of the Palarong Pambansa games. 

And without a shadow of a doubt, there will be many, many more. – Rappler.com

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