As the DLSU Green Archers warmed up for their first round encounter of the UE Red Warriros, only one player had yet to see action for head coach Juno Sauler prior to their fifth game of the season. Despite his considerable size, he would hoist three pointers in the warm-ups, hitting them with precision and making more than he would miss. It seemed like it was just a matter of time before the rest of the UAAP would be put on notice about the prowess of this young man.
He finally checked into the game as the first quarter was winding down, but he immediately returned to the bench. Moments later though at the beginning of the second quarter, he got back on the court and launched a three pointer that met the bottom of the net. “Matt Salem for three!”, yelled the Mall of Asia Arena barker.
“When I hit those threes it felt really good and it brought my confidence level up a lot. I just did what my coach said and that was not to worry about anything else that’s going on just to play your game,” Salem recalls.
Salem, a rookie for the Green Archers, was pumped up and on the ensuing possession, he had the ball once again and he was open from beyond the arc. He rose up, flicked his wrist and the ball burned through the net once more. Salem had just made two straight three pointers to put the Green Archers in the lead, and the entire league was left wondering where this sweet-shooting forward came from.
East coast beginnings
Born to a Filipina mother and a Lebanese-American father, Salem attended Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Florida, where he started out as a hockey player before picking up basketball.
“I started off playing hockey until high school in the States, but in my freshman year, I started playing basketball so its just my fifth year playing the sport. I started playing basketball in my first year of high school when I made it to the team and ever since then I quit hockey. It was a change of heart,” shares the soft-spoken forward.
Despite playing high school basketball over 14,000 kilometers away from De La Salle University, Salem was well aware of the happenings in the UAAP. “When I was back in the states, I used to watch highlights of the UAAP before coming here and I knew it was going to be tough,” quips Salem.
When he finally found his way to Manila for the first time in 15 years, he found the league to be as tough as he imagined when he laced up his sneakers. He adds, “I didn’t know the style of play of the game coming in and its different from the states. Its been really competitive and fun, I would say. There’s more hand checking here and they get away with grabbing jerseys and a few elbows so its really a different style of play.”
His journey to La Salle was a derivation from the original plan and he shares his story saying, “I have a tito in the States who said to just give it a try here because my mom was coming to visit anyways. I was supposed to check out UST first before coming to La Salle, but i came here first and I ended up liking it more than other schools plus I heard that this was one of the top schools in the Philippines. I ended up staying plus the team was nice and welcoming as well.”
Bright future
Currently taking up AB Sports Studies, Salem has emerged to become a fixture in Sauler’s rotation as a major threat from beyond the three point line. As a matter of fact, since appearing in the team’s fifth game, he has participated in every game so far. He has made 10 out of 24 three pointers so far in the season while averaging just seven minutes per contest, providing quality play for the Green Archers during his stints on the court.
Despite his growing popularity with the fans and his stellar shooting on the court, Salem remains humble and thankful for the opportunity given to him. “It feels really good to get the chance [to play] and I’m really happy to be part of the team because there are people who really want to be a part of this and just to be on the court is really fun and it means a lot,” admits Salem.
With four more seasons after UAAP 76 to look forward to, the development of Salem will be highly anticipated by the Lasallian community. Despite his promising season so far, he remains humble though and he adds, “People tell me that I’m a good shooter, but I dont really believe ’em because you always have to work on your game so I always feel like there’s always room for improvement.”
His slick shooting stroke and humble demeanor add up to a promising future for this young rookie. Salem is an integral part in the future of the young Green Archers and if things go as planned, it seems like he will be making it rain on Taft Avenue for a long time to come.
One reply on “Matt Salem: Making it rain, Florida to Manila”
Biggest advantage – nerves of steel. Weakness – too gentle and can easily be push around under the goal. Need to learn – it’s not personal just basketball. Filipinos love the sport so much that they’d do anything to get the advantage.And almost always what happens in the court stays in the court.