From claws to bows: Caracut looks to take the UAAP by storm

Over the years, the UAAP has become the premier amateur league in this basketball-crazed nation. With many of the country’s top educational institutions as its members, the UAAP garners extensive media coverage, as well as adoration amongst the masses from all over the archipelago. This is the reason why so many young Filipino athletes dream of one day suiting up for one of the eight universities that are currently slugging it out in this annual sports fest.

Enter Green Archers rookie point guard Andrei Caracut. Like many others, he has long aimed to play basketball for a UAAP school ever since he caught the games on television.

“Since bata ako, lagi akong nanonood ng UAAP. Sobrang fan ako ng UAAP and especially La Salle. Pangarap ko talaga na maglaro sa kahit anong UAAP school and especially La Salle,” says Caracut.

Humble beginnings

A native of Lucban, Quezon, Caracut began playing basketball at the age of four. Along with his father, they would troop to the courts where they would develop his skills and build up his passion for playing the sport. A fun fact Andrei also shares was that the teaching began way before he could actually move.

“Actually nung dinadala palang ako ng mama ko, bininbigyan na ako ng papa ko ng basketball noon so siguro doon palang,” he mentions. “Pero nag-start talaga ako four years old ako. Dinadala ako ng dad ko sa basketball court and tinuturuan niya na ako. Ayun, naging passion ko talaga ang basketball noong four years old ako and hanggang ngayon.”

He would eventually reap the fruits of his labor during his stint as a member of the San Beda Red Cubs. The 19-year old led the Red Cubs to their sixth straight championship during his senior year, scoring 30 points in the title-clinching game that earned him the Finals MVP Award.

“Di ko ineexpect na ako ang mag e-MVP noon. Talagang nakafocus lang ako sa championship. Pero ayun, I was awarded MVP. Sobrang grateful ako na nakuha ko yun at daladala ko iyon hanggang pagtanda ko,” said the young point guard.

In addition to his decorated high school career, the 5’11 sharpshooter was also a member of the RP under-18 national squad that placed 5th in the 2014 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championships held in Doha, Qatar. There he would team up with fellow amateur stars Kobe Paras, Mark Dyke, Ranbill Tongco, and fellow DLSU rookie Jolo Go.

“Sobrang grateful ako na nakasama ako. Dati pinapanood ko lang sila Kiefer [Ravena] at sila Jeron [Teng] na naglalaro doon sa RP. Sobrang pinangarap ko yun and ayun, nabigyan ako ng opportunity na makapag try–out and nabigay naman ni Lord. Sobrang happy ako na nakasama ako doon and ang laki din ng tinulong sa akin sa basketball career ko ngayon,” Caracut tells of his time with the Batang Gilas.

Greener pastures

With all his accomplishments as a high school player, college varsity teams came knocking on his door step. Heavily recruited, he had to make a difficult decision of either staying with his current school, San Beda, or to make the leap to the UAAP, which will help him realize a life-long dream. After months of speculation, he eventually committed to DLSU.

“Siyempre alam naman natin na magaling ang La Salle sa studies and sa basketball. Maganda ang program nila. Alma mater ko yung San Beda pero sinunod ko pa rin yung pangarap ko,” he says regarding his decision to play for La Salle, where he is taking up Interdisciplinary Business Studies.

In his first tournament with the Green and White, he impressed Lasallians and opponents alike with his stellar play. Despite being a rookie, he orchestrated the team’s offense with ease and even led the Green Archers in scoring. The former Red Cub also came through in the clutch with his three-point shooting.

When asked if he could transition his performance into the UAAP, the Lucban-bred player said that while he couldn’t promise the same statistics, he is prepared to contribute with whatever it takes for them to win their games in the upcoming cage wars.

“Palagi naman akong ready,” Caracut explains. “Every game dapat handa lang ako, kung anong maitutulong ko sa team. Gagawin ko lang parang nung FilOil, ngayon lang mas organized kami. Kailangan every possession maayos. Gagawin ko naman ang lahat, basta ready ako ngayong season.”

While he idolizes professional players like Stephen Curry and James Yap, as evident from his smooth and consistent jump-shot, the person that inspires him the most in both basketball and life is someone that has been with him from boyhood into stardom.

“Naging inspirasyon ko talaga yung papa ko, tinutukan niya ako sa basketball, tinuruan niya ako and siyempre noong bata ako siya yung idol ko hanggang ngayon,” states the San Beda standout.