“That’s the strength of La Salle. Not just one, not two, not three, but the sum of all parts.” This is what 6’9” big man James Pado believes to be the key for them to win it all this season.
Coming off of a disappointing end last season, the Green Archers bolstered their roster with a championship in mind. Three new rookies are coming in from abroad—namely Pado, Tracey Keyshawn Meeker, and Jamie Malonzo—all in hopes of achieving the elusive UAAP title once again. However, these rookies will only play a single season for the Taft-based squad as they have already earned their college degrees in the United States and are enrolled for graduate studies this year.
A seamless fit
It is common for student-athletes to find difficulty adjusting to a new university—let alone a new country—but for the incoming rookies, their transition to the Philippines could not have been smoother.
“It’s been nothing but blessings so far. Honestly, it’s been great learning about the culture here in the Philippines,” shares Malonzo.
Despite the little time they’ve had so far to bond as a team, Meeker shares that they are already building a sense of camaraderie with each other, “I [get] to know some of the guys more as I talk to them, Aljun, Encho, and Cu. I’ve been trying to talk to the local guys for as much as I can, because they’ll help me adjust quicker. I want to hopefully bring a competitive chip to the team, and bring some intensity and toughness to the team.” Additionally, he shares that he is excited because he believes that “the UAAP is going to be shocked for what happens”.
Talented and committed are two words that Pado uses to describe the team. He explains, “I’ve played basketball for a lot of years for a lot of teams, and this team has it. All we have to do is connect, build relationships with each other, and most of all, we just [have to] commit to the process. I can tell that all these guys here want to win.”
Making an impact
The newcomers highlight that they hope to provide a positive impact on the team both on and off the court. All three played four years of collegiate basketball in the United States, and aside from their unique playstyles, they hope to bring experience, toughness, and leadership to the table.
“Probably just energy, defense, scoring, and taking this team to the next level—pretty much doing it all,” Malonzo responds when asked what he can offer the team from a basketball standpoint.
Pado is hoping to leave an impact that goes beyond the basketball court by sharing a lot of the lessons he has learned in his life with his new teammates. “I can bring a hundred percent effort [and] leadership so that I could help the younger players become a [better] student-athlete because at the end of the day, it’s more than just basketball. For me, I’m proud and happy that I graduated from Young Harris with a degree because I have that under my belt now, and I just want to help influence my teammates for the better.”
The challenge
With great talent comes lofty expectations, and with standards for La Salle now set higher, all three rookies have one common goal: to win a championship in their first and only year playing for the Green-and-White.
When it comes to all the expectations surrounding himself and the team, Pado discusses, “Success for me is measured by wins. Individually, I see myself playing [my] role, whether as a starter or off the bench. As a team, all I can say is that we’re coming, we’re going to show people. There are a lot of doubters…There’s people that already [see] Ateneo winning it all, but we’re [going to] prove them wrong as a team. We’re gonna play basketball the right way, which is the team way…together.”
Meeker also adds, “I’m excited but [I] can’t guarantee or predict anything because I have no clue what’s going to happen or what it’s going to be like. I hope we can bring a championship back to La Salle—that could be the team goal to get to.”
The Green Archers will open their UAAP Season 82 campaign against the ADMU Blue Eagles on Sunday, September 8, at 4pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
