Thursday’s Gilas practice was like an alumni homecoming for the Gilas Cadets. Right after the session ended, photos were taken and pleasantries were exchanged. At the center of it all was 24 year old former De La Salle Green Archer Arnold Van Opstal, who was attending his first Gilas practice.
“The man of the hour,” famed sports agent Danny Espiritu told Van Opstal.
“It feels awesome to see Almond [Vosotros] and Yutien [Andrada],” the Filipino-German shared as he saw his UAAP batchmates for the first time since the 77th Season of the league. “All of these guys like Fonso [Gotladera] and the FEU boys, we grew up playing with each other from high school. It just feels good and the vibe’s very positive.”
“It really gets your game going because there’s no rivalry, no jealousy. Everyone wants to see one another get better. The college days are kind of done.”
The 6’9 big man had been gone for a year, recuperating from an Achilles injury that forced him to forego his fifth year with the Green Archers. While recovering, Van Opstal used this opportunity to find himself, travelling all over the world and looking for new perspectives about life in general.
“Well, while I was travelling I got to meet a lot of good people. I tried to get a perspective about life in general,” he shared. “It opened my mind a lot and kept me going, kept me positive. It was a dream come true for me. I was blessed enough to act on it and fulfill my dreams.”
For the better part of 2015 going into 2016, the big man was fortunate to travel across three continents. “Iceland, Spain, Germany, England, Turkey, Czech Republic, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Cambodia, Japan, Thailand… All in the past year. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland. I did a lot. I really maximized what I could and did not waste any time.”
The only time he was able to return to the hardcourts was back in March, training in North Carolina to bulk up and add weapons to his “one-dimensional” game.
“I’m trying to work with my left now. I was very, very one-dimensional in La Salle,” Van Opstal, who averaged just 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, lamented. “The scouting report was just I always kept going to the right which was true.”
“Now, I’m hoping that I can go left and right. More multi-dimensional. Definitely worked on my jumpshot. I think in the UAAP I only took two jumpshots in my career.
“I’m just trying new things. Hopefully, everything works out since I haven’t tried it on a 5-on-5 game. We’ll see,” he furthered.
Two months ago, the big man received a call that would change his plans. Never did he expect he would once again be invited to represent the country.
“The first time I got an offer I wasn’t able to play. The second time that’s when my Achilles injury happened, again I had to step down. At that point, I never thought I will have another opportunity,” he said.
“A couple of months ago, they started talking about a system just like the first Gilas. They contacted me if I was interested and, of course, I jumped on it right away.
“I’m fortunate that coach Tab and the rest of the coaching staff are taking a chance in me and believing in me.”
Van Opstal is not letting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of representing flag and country get past him once more.
“It’s a big commitment to represent the country but also I have to be patient wth myself knowing that I’ve been gone and I want to do my best and my best is the only thing I can do,” he closed.
“There’s no point in worrying about something that is beyond my control.”
