After representing the Green-and-White for the past couple of years, former Green Archers Jollo Go and Mark Dyke were able to bag one UAAP championship and a number of memorable moments together. Today, the two Lasallians look forward to joining the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Determined for a new start
“Basketball doesn’t stop with [the] UAAP,” says Go. The former Green Archer confirms that they heard the news about getting cut from the team through a phone call. However, he also pointed out that the incident has been a blessing in disguise—opening a new door in their careers.
Being a rookie in a semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines is no easy feat, even for a player like Go. “It’s been a humbling experience learning from professional basketball players,” he shares. The 5’10” shooting guard shares that he is grateful for the veterans in the Manila Stars as they welcomed him and Dyke with open arms and treated them like little brothers.
With an opportunity to play in another league, the transition from a collegiate level to a semi-professional level empowers Go to work harder. He explains, “I do extra work everyday to be ready for the physicality of professional ball.” The Manila Star rookie also shares that he has gained more confidence on the court with the trust of his coaches and teammates.
The adjustment period was challenging for Go. He expresses, “We were [recruited] a month before MPBL, which gave us enough time to learn the new system.” B ut the Lasallian thanks the management, coaches, and his teammates who have been guiding them. With the trust and freedom he is given to play on the court, Go is very optimistic about the bond he shares with his new team. “I believe [that] in a short amount of time, we’ve built good relationships [among] ourselves that translate both on and off the court,” says Go.
Despite everything, the former Lasallian shooting guard remains grateful for the opportunities that La Salle gave him during his collegiate career. “At the end of the day, I know I have a lot of memories to cherish and relationships that are meant to last a lifetime thanks to La Salle,” he states.
Continuing the passion for the game
Although his time with the Green-and-White was cut short similar to Go, Dyke has nothing but appreciation for his stay in Taft and the Lasallian community. “To summarize my entire stay at La Salle, I think the best thing I learned is how to overcome pressure because we all know playing for La Salle is not easy,” he states. The former Green Archer shares that the pride of being a Lasallian and the attitude of being a winner are two lessons he will take with him to help his new team.
After hearing the news of his exclusion from the team, Dyke was rightfully dejected. “Of course I felt sad when I found out I got cut because ever since I started playing basketball, playing for La Salle was a dream of mine,” he shares. However, the Lasallian explains that he was lucky enough to have a chance to play for his dream school. Further, being able to achieve a lifelong dream has been such a big accomplishment for Dyke, and with him closing a chapter to that, another opportunity presented itself for Dyke in the MPBL.
With the MPBL, Dyke is given the opportunity to be able to showcase his skill set once again—this time against semi-professionals. Before the MPBL, he was given the opportunity to continue representing the Lasallian community by playing for De La Salle-College of St. Benilde. However, the former Green Archer chose to play for the MPBL instead, reasoning, “I don’t need to serve a residency because I couldn’t wait and I miss playing the game that I love most.”
The MPBL continues to help Dyke grow more, both as a player and a person. He shares, “I’m having a great experience playing in the MPBL because I get to play against many ex-professional players so it’s a great opportunity to learn especially from them—[and] for me to mature and grow as a player.“
A step closer
The lucky chance to play has been a huge help for both Go and Dyke, as both of them think that this is a necessary step before reaching their ultimate goal—playing basketball professionally. “I plan to join the D-League and hopefully in the future, join the draft for the PBA,” Go states. Likewise, Dyke shares, “I think after MPBL, I’ll give D-League [a try] and hopefully will have the chance to turn pro.”
This is just the beginning of two young basketball careers. With the grit and determination they have shown the Lasallian community over the past years, achieving success is not improbable.
