MVP, CHAMP. Jeslar Uriel Larumbe, a victim of a hit-and-run incident, seen in these photos with trophies he won in several tournaments in Cebu. | Photos from FTW Athletics, DBCABL, and Badboyz Basketball Club
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Jeslar Uriel Larumbe, a victim of a hit-and-run incident, will surely be missed by the basketball community in Cebu.
Larumbe died on Sunday, February 4, in a reported hit-and-run incident in uptown Cebu City. He was just 23.
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Larumbe, his friends say, was an excellent player in various leagues in Cebu and a vital cog for the teams he played for.
Proof of this was that Larumbe was a two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) and two-time champion under Batch 2017 in the Don Bosco Cebu Alumni Basketball League (DBCABL).
He also played for the Don Bosco Greywolves in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi), Cebu’s collegiate league.
Jeslar Uriel Larumbe to his friends
Larumbe was also an active player in three separate leagues in Cebu, the Mandaue’s Pride Basketball Association (MPBA), FTW Athletics Basketball Club, and Badboyz Basketball Club (BBC), before his untimely passing.
He played for the Truck N Trail, the defending champions of the MPBA.
Among those deeply affected by his death is Truck N Trail head coach, Phil Mercader.
In an interview with CDN Digital, Mercader described the 23-year-old Larumbe as a calm and jolly person on and off the court.
“Akong tawag niya kay baby boy kay sige ra jud na siya ug smile. Siya ang tipo sa tawo nga wala pa ko kakita nga nasuko. Nasuko man gani pero inig taod-taod nag ngisi na. Buotan kaayo nga player ug masinabtanon nga kauban,” said Mercader.
(I call him baby boy because he always smiles. He is the type of person who doesn’t get mad. If he does, after a while, he’s smiling already. He’s a very good player and very understanding to his teammates.)
Shattered dreams
Bertoni Salazar, who is the organizer of both the FTW Athletics Basketball Club and the DBCABL, describes Larumbe as a very friendly member of his leagues.
Salazar said that Larumbe had a lot of dreams before he passed away. He was supposed to take the civil engineering board examinations this year.
“Jeslar was easy to get along with, very friendly, he knew his priorities and valued his family and friends very much. He was on every team every time I play a league. He was very supportive of my business ventures. He was like a brother and a son to me. I told him to take a hiatus from basketball in the meantime to focus on his upcoming board exam to fulfill his dream to be a civil engineer this year,” said Salazar.
Miggy Dela Torre, Larumbe’s teammate since his elementary days, said that he will miss his favorite three-point shooter.
“I love having him as my shooter, but I love him most as a friend. He was a good son, brother, teammate, and friend. He will surely be missed,” said Dela Torre.
Respect for other players
His teammates with the Truck N’ Trail, Ej Conahap and Ranel Cortes, also expressed their deep sorrow for Larumbe’s passing, stating that Larumbe was one of their best teammates.
“Siya ang player nga maminaw gyud sa kauban bisan ug maayo na siya mo duwa. Andam gyud siya maminaw para namong tanan. Ang iyahang katawa ang akong dili makalimtan ug ang iyahang respeto sa uban players,” said Conahap.
(He’s the type of player who would listen to others even if he is already a good player. He is always ready to listen for all of us. His laugh is what i’ll never forget and his respect for other players.)
“Usa siya sa players nga andam ipakita iyahang talent sa basketball para lang modaog iyahang team ug usa siya ka amigo, pamilya, ug barkada,” added Cortes.
(He is one player who is ready to show his talent in basketball for the sake of winning and he is a friend, family and a barkada.)
Larumbe’s remains lie in state at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office continues to investigate the hit-and-run incident that killed Larumbe.
“Nanghinaot ming tanan nga mahatagan ug hustisya ang nahitabo ni Jeslar,” Mercader said.
(We all hope Jeslar’s death will be given justice.)
/bmjo