Thank You! Tribute to NU Seniors 2014

Today is the last game of Glenn Khobuntin, Troy Rosario, Tristan Perez and Henri Betayene as Bulldogs.

After their last dance against FEU later today for PCCL, they will hang up their National University jerseys for good. Something that most of us (NU Hopefuls) shuddered to see. Their college journeys may have come to an end. But their basketball careers have just begun. Soon enough, they will be on a bigger stage, playing under the bright lights of the commercial leagues. 

It was never a walk in the park for these boys to get to where they are right now. And I just want to reminisce through the memories what these four boys have gone through in donning the National-U's colors. 

I remember five years ago when I entered NU as a transferee. Glenn was my classmate in Rizal together with Jeff, Dennis, Kyle and Ced. They- all- five of them-- would always sit at the last row, because probably they knew how tall they were. I came to know Glenn more when I started writing about the Bulldogs for the Campus Paper. He was the prized recruit of Coach Eric Gonzales coming out of the Letran Squires. I interviewed him a couple of times. He was approachable, a bit shy but kind enough to answer all my questions.  

Glenn was known as a leader and a scorer during his heydays in Letran. In his rookie year on the UAAP stage, Glenn had his fair share of rookie mistakes but had his moments as well. He would struggle with his game at times but he also was able to redeem himself. He was given enough exposure for the ROY race but a technical foul and a suspension kept him out from contention. His sophomore year wasn't that good. With the arrival of some big names, Glenn was forced to spend more time on the bench. The same thing happened during his third year. He would show a glimpse of what he had but most of the time, he struggled to bring out his game. A lot of concerned friends advised him to drop his last playing year and just move on to the commercial leagues. But Glenn relented. For the fact was, he was not the kind of athlete who leaves when the situation has a lot to be desired. Rather, he persevered to finish what he started. And he trusted his coaches. During those not-so-good moments, Glenn never stopped working. He put the extra in extra mile, extra practice, shooting, conditioning; he never stopped to improve his game. Little did he know, something great was in store for him.

In his last playing year, Kapitan Glenn brought out what he'd kept for the longest time. He put on the cape of a leader and unleashed the beast within helping the Bulldogs to the coveted UAAP Crown.

The same can be said of Troy Rosario. A transferee from TIP and  a member of the RP Youth Team. Gifted with both skill and height, most of his early years with the Bulldogs were spent playing back-up to the then dominant Jean Mbe. But all that changed in Season 77. Like a boy turning into a man, Troy emerged as an integral piece of the Bulldogs’ attack even earning a moniker shared with a gifted pro who tread a road equally  as treacherous as his: Pinoy Sakuragi. In fact, Marc Pingris was all praises when he witnessed Troy’s tenacity and fire in Game 2 of the UAAP Finals. The years of waiting eventually bore fruit as Troy deemed as the Most Improved Player of the league averaging nearly 11 points and 8 rebounds per game this past season. For Troy, the stint may have been short but definitely sweet.

Like Troy, Henri also spent most of his time playing in the shadows of Mbe. But that along with injuries never stopped him from improving his game. In the departure of the former Mythical Five member, Henri brought his game to new heights. A much competitive Betayene was seen on the court day in and day out securing the paint and the ball. Many times during the season,I found Henri to be the team’s silent hero. He may not light up the scoreboard, but the hustle, the defense was always there. If it meant diving for the ball or laying his body on the line. He had no second thoughts about doing it. Very unselfish, that was Henri. 

I could still remember when I texted Tristan one afternoon that I needed his class schedule because I was doing the team's eligibility for UAAP season 75. He was shocked. I guess he was all smiles walking to the school so he can give me his schedule. He was included in the UAAP line-up for the first time. I still remember his face on that fateful day. He wasn’t expecting to be included in the roster for that year. Tristan was a role-player. He was the kind of player who always maximized the opportunities given to him. He made sure of it. He never complained, never demanded for anything. He was just there, always ready, always prepared when his number was called for battle.

These four seniors had their own stories. These seniors played different roles in the team. We may remember Glenn as the one who stopped Jeron Teng from scoring, Troy as the one who would almost always post a double-double, Tristan as the one who was seldom used, and Henri as the robin to Alfred's Batman. But those individual memories didn't matter in the end. Because right now, we will always remember them as the Bulldogs who made history. The Bulldogs who brought National University to the championship. The Bulldogs who claimed the entire UAAP as their yard.  

We will always remember them as a team who gave their all in leading the longest erstwhile doormat boys into basketball prominence. We will always remember them as the team who fell and rose together in the end.  

Thank you Seniors! For years of dedication, loyalty and hardwork for the team. You have served the school well.  

Thank you Kapitan!

Thank you Troy!

Thank you Tristan!

Thank you Henri! 

GO BULLDOGS!