Coming home as champions
After suffering through the heartbreak of losing in the finals while playing for the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles in the Cesafi, current National University aces Dave Wilson Yu and Adven Jess Diputado can now relish in being called champions after playing their respective parts in the Bulldogs’ run to the title in the UAAP.
The two players recently found themselves back in Cebu, playing on the same floor where they went through crushing defeats in their bid for high school titles while suiting up for the Magis Eagles.
In 2010, Diputado was SHS-AdC’s court general and was part of the Cesafi juniors Mythical Five. However, he and the rest of the Magis Eagles got swept by the resurgent Cebu Eastern College Dragons in the finals.
The next year, Yu also suffered the same fate, though in more painful fashion as they got edged by the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers, 3-2, in the five-game series, a defeat made even more humbling by the fact that they once led the series, 2-1, and were up 10 points in the final period of the deciding Game 5.
But the two young men, seemingly joined at the hip after also suiting up for various iterations of the Philippine Youth basketball team, once again became teammates this season in the UAAP and found victory and redemption with the Bulldogs, who they helped end a 60-year title drought with a finals win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
Still, both Yu and Diputado expressed delight in being back home, playing in front of familiar faces.
“It feels great. I’ve been in Cebu for quite some time and I can call it home. It feels good to be home,” said Diputado, the Dumaguete-native and younger brother of former UV Green Lancer ace Chris Victor Diputado and elder one to current San Beda Red Cub, Marc Joseph.
Yu on the other hand, savored the opportunity to play in front of his family after being away for most of the year. “It feels so good because it’s your hometown and my family and friends are there cheering for me,” Yu shared.
The title was extra special for the 6-foot-3 wingman as even though he saw action in just three games this past season, he was still able to win a title at the expense of Tamaraws Reeve Ugsang and Ron Dennison, who were main cogs of the Baby Lancers squad that defeated his Magis Eagles in 2011.
“Super happy kay na ka champion especially naa sila (Reeve) Ugsang ug si (Ron) Dennison sa pikas team. Mura ra gihapon SHS-AdC versus UV,” said Yu.
Diputado on the other hand, was grateful for the trust that is being given to him by the NU braintrust led by head coach Eric Altamirano in spite of his rookie status.
“It is something that I am very appreciative about because it makes me feel like he has faith in me and I am not going to take it for granted,” said Diputado who averaged 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and an assist in nearly 15 minutes of action per game.
Yu though, expects to bide his time and wait for his turn in the loaded NU roster. But he promised to get better and be ready for the time when his number is called.