Gallego soars for a layup in this contributed photo against NU
LAST YEAR, the Chiang Kai Shek Blue Dragons had the element of surprise going for them as they shocked one high juniors basketball powerhouse after another en route to becoming the national high school champions with their momentous victory in the National Basketball Training Center Division 1 finals over UAAP champions National University.
Now, with the word already out, the Blue Dragons are aiming to maintain their spot atop the hierarchy against all comers behind the play of sensational guard, John Vincent Gallego, who is set to inherit the mantle of team leader and chief gunner with the graduation of senior forward, the NU-bound Mohammed Salim.
Gallego, a 5-foot-10 wide-bodied, left-handed guard with deft ball-handling skills and a killer step-back jumper who he says he patterned after his on-court idol the “Cebuano Hotshot” Dondon Hontiveros, actually announced his readiness for big time basketball by scoring 16 of his 32 points in the fourth period of the NBTC finals game against the Bullpups.
At one point of that game, he displayed his uncanny confidence by tallying 11 straight points to vanquish NU, a team that struck fear into opponents’ hearts by going undefeated in the UAAP.
“I didn’t want to let my team down,” Gallego said in an exclusive interview with Cebu Daily News during their Cebu goodwill tour last week. “Ayaw ko talaga matalo. Lahat ng bosses namin, binibigay ang mga kailangan namin. Ang coaches namin, sobrang supportive. Siyempre gusto ko lang makabawi sa kanila.”
That prodigious offensive outburst bodes well for the 15-year-old Bulaceño as he prepares to lead the Blue Dragons to newer heights this year, with or without their mother league, the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball League which was scrapped last year due to an eligibility dispute between the member schools.
“Third oldest na sana dito sa Pilipinas. Sobrang sayang. Sana this year meron,” Gallego said. “But our main goal would be to win back to back sa NBTC. Yun ang pagtutuunan naming ng pansin.”
Gallego is appreciative of all the accolades that are coming his way but remains focused on the team’s goals and on his personal ones as well.
“I feel overwhelmed and grateful for all the opportunities. Bihira lang talaga na junior pa lang, ganito na ang natatanggap na attention.