While veterans Thomas Torres and Prince Rivero of La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) have been fixtures of the DLSU Green Archers, there was an absence of De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) Junior Archers in last season’s roster for the UAAP. Arnold Van Opstal took the option to forego his final playing year in 2015, while Luigi Dela Paz was left out of the Season 77 lineup. Recently, Gabby Reyes also transferred to ADMU this 2016.
In Season 79, there are six rookies on the DLSU roster, two of whom graduated from DLSU’s high school affiliate, Aljun Melecio (I, MGT) and Brent Paraiso (I, ISE).
Breaks of the game
Melecio and Paraiso, despite receiving opportunities to take their talents to ADMU and NU, and College of St. Benilde (CSB), respectively, made the decision to remain as Archers. “Sobrang swerte namin nabigyan ng opportunity. Kasi last year, wala [Junior Archers in the DLSU lineup]. Coming from Zobel, we’re blessed to become Green Archers,” Melecio says on the opportunity to continue donning the Green-and-White. With former Zobel standouts such as Noah Webb and Renzo Subido having gone to UP and UST, respectively, to continue their playing careers, the two rookies feel blessed to continue having the words ‘La Salle’ across their chests.
Paraiso made his debut as a Green Archer versus the UP Fighting Maroons, while Melecio made his first appearance versus the defending champions, the FEU Tamaraws. Both players recalled and cherished their thoughts as they checked into the game for the very first time for DLSU. “Ito na yung dream ko, makakalaro na ako. Iba yung feeling, solid lang talaga,” recalls Melecio, who was recruited by DLSZ after finishing elementary in Lourdes School Mandaluyong. “Sa Junior Archers kasi, nung championship [games] lang sobrang dami ng mga tao. Dito [seniors division], first game palang, dami na. Second game, dami pa rin. Lalo na siguro sa finals, or La Salle versus ADMU,” shares Paraiso.
Styles of play
Melecio as a point guard, has built a reputation of being both a scorer and playmaker from his days back in DLSZ. “For me, kaya ko maset[up] yung teammates ko [for scoring opportunities]. Pero if given the chance naman na malibre, take ko yung chance [to score],” says the Season 78 Juniors MVP and 2012 Junior NBA MVP on what he can contribute to the team. Paraiso, a shooting guard, on the other hand, has become known for being an energy player, providing hustle and lockdown defense. “Bago mag game, sinasabi ni coach na makukuha namin yung offense from defense kaya yung style talaga ditto, parang fit ako. Dahil sa defense,” says Paraiso, who has been a Lasallian since junior prep.
Life on and off the court
As high school batchmates, both freshmen have been able to help each other transition to college life, both on and off the court. Paraiso and Melecio both mentioned that their older teammates, particularly Kib Montalbo, have also been putting in the extra effort in helping them adjust to life in Taft.
Though the school year has just started, both already feel a certain familiarity with the environment because of the six-month summer they had, caused by the shift in the academic calendar. Paraiso chuckled at the thought of not having an entire day to sleep in after practice anymore, but both are excited with the idea of a fresh start in a new environment. “Parang feeling ko naman start pa ng class, masaya na,” says Melecio.
Adjusting to the college game
Being rookies, they know they will have to make adjustments to be effective in the college game. Both, however, feel prepared for the transition because of the lessons they’ve learned from their fathers, who both of them idolize, and their high school coach, Boris Aldeguer. Remembering Aldeguer, both recalled his stoic nature, but Melecio was quick to point out he did learn an important lesson from his coach. “Kailangan disciplina. The way you act, kailangan maayos talaga kahit nakaupo ka lang sa bench, bawal ka umupo ng naka ganun [slouched], dapat talaga ganito [straight].”
Now with the Green Archers, they have a new mentor in Aldin Ayo. Despite the things they’ve learned from Ayo on the court, the rookies appreciate even more the relationships they have with their coach off the court. “Comfortable ako kay coach kahit magkasama kami sa kitchen, naguusap lang kami. Open siya, kahit sa life mo,” Melecio explains.
On the court, however, both feel the responsibility to improve and adjust to the rookie coach’s system, particularly since they are still freshmen. “Gusto ko lang talaga magimprove and maadjust, para the following years, makacontribute na ako,” says the point guard. When asked about the topic, Paraiso laughs, recalling a time in practice when he accidentally ran a play he was so accustomed to from his Zobel days. Nevertheless, he shares the same sentiment. “Yun nga, improve, then adjust sa system.”
Achieving the dream
Both blessed to be part of a select group of Zobel athletes who have made the transition to Taft, Paraiso and Melecio both hope to see many more follow in their footsteps. While the former emphasizes “living in the moment”, the point guard reminds student athletes to “keep on working hard [and] don’t forget to enjoy on and off the court, wag masyado seryoso.”
For the rookies, there truly is only one way to make this dream even better: a championship. While still undefeated after five games, the two know nothing is a given at this point. Melecio stresses that the team cannot get complacent even with the positive results so far. “Yung parang sinasabi nila na yung pinaka grabeng kalaban mo [ay] yung sarili mo,” adds Paraiso.
Though a championship eluded them during their time at Zobel, both believe that with support from the coaches and the Lasallian community, this could finally be the time they win a trophy
