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CEBU CITY, Philippines – The future is certainly looking bright for 19 years old Leonard Santillan, who plays forward for the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and is one of the hoop stars of the CESAFI men’s basketball tournament.
Just recently, the 6-foot-5 inches tall Santillan, who hails from Suba, Basbas in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, defended his slam dunk title in the 15th CESAFI All Star festivities held last September 27.
Last year, Santillan had one of his biggest achievements in the sport when he was named into the Batang Gilas and saw action in the FIBA-Asia Under-18 Championship held in Doha, Qatar.
“Lipay kaayo ko ato kay sa kadaghan ako jud ang nakuha (I was very happy with it because among the many, I was the one picked up),” said Santillan referring to his first international stint in the sport.
As accomplished as Santillan is right now, he admits that he had no interest in basketball while growing up, that is, until he reached sixth grade and decided to give it a try. Then, he got hooked.
Previously he had played soccer as a goalkeeper but he opted to shift to basketball because he had an advantage over opponents in the sport with his height.
He then started playing in the barangay league and for his school, the Marigondon National High School, until his third year when he was brought by former Green Lancer Rino Berame to UV and was immediately lined up for the school’s Passerelle team.
Santillan transferred to UV where he finished his secondary studies and wherein he also started playing for the CESAFI basketball in the junior division.
Right after high school graduation, he suited up for the university’s collegiate team in 2013 and helped the Green Lancers clinch their 10th title in the senior division of the league.
After his stint with the national team last year, he received an offer from National University (NU), but opted to stay with UV.
But he does have dreams of playing in the capital someday, probably in the PBA.
In his third year this season, Santillan, who is taking up BS in Customs Administration, has been named to the starting lineup in every game that the Green Lancers have played in.
However, family problems have kept him from being consistent in the games as he only averaged 8.7 points per game, 2.8 percent rebounds per game and 42.8 percent in 3-point field goals during the eliminations.
Things took a turn for the better for Santillan of late as he helped the Green Lancers open their last elimination assignment with a 7-0 run against defending champion Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras last September 26 before he got sidelined with a sprained ankle.
The next day, he defended his slam dunk title despite nursing the injury.
(READ: Santillan retains CESAFI dunk title; East wins All-Star game)
Things are looking up for Santillan as he led the Green Lancers to victory in their first semifinal match against the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Jaguars September 29 by clinching his season high of 23 points, 10 rebounds and one steal to earn the best player title of the ballgame.
Santillan credits this positive change to the team’s outreach program wherein they visit institutions of delinquents, orphans, homeless and the dying destitutes as part of their social responsibility.
What touched Santillan deeply was the team’s visit to the Children’s Resource Center Pari-an Drop-in Center, just a walk away from the UV Campus in downtown Cebu City, wherein they got to interact and play with kids who were adopted from the streets.
“The visit to the street children really inspired me and made me play better because I want them to see that they too have a chance to become like me,” Santillan said.
The Green Lancers have pledged to dedicate their every game to the institutions that they have visited.
Before he ends his career in the CESAFI, he wants to help the UV Green Lancers win another collegiate title and he believes they have a big chance this season because they not only have a strong team, but they also have good chemistry.
According to Santillan, they need to continue working on their teamwork, more cooperation and hard work and practice double time for the title.
He said that the team has this attitude of becoming complacent, referencing their loss to the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats during the eliminations
“We should not underestimate teams,” Santillan says.
Santillan says he looks up to LeBron James because, despite his popularity, the Cleveland Cavaliers hoopster still practices to improve his game.
Among the local stars, he pinpoints Marc Pingris because “he may be undersized for a big man but he is strong and goes for the rebound.”
Asked for words of advice for aspiring basketball players, Santillan has this to say “don’t lose hope, pray always, practice always and love basketball.” – Rappler.com
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