By: Dominic Adrian Veloso
Entering the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Cabs Cabonilas carried massive expectations on his shoulders.
After winning the MVP, Finals MVP, and championship in the Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament — as well as gaining international experience with Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 over the summer — the former FEU-Diliman standout immediately faced a baptism of fire in his collegiate debut.
As the Tamaraws absorbed a come-from-behind, 53–56 loss to Adamson University Falcons in their Season 89 opener, Cabonilas proved to be FEU’s undeniable bright spot.
He finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and one steal, while scoring all seven of the Tamaraws’ points in the payoff period.
“First game ko, marami akong natutunan. Ito yung kailangan ko para i-level up pa kung ano yung kulang ko at para ibigay ko yung best ko. Yung mga pinapagawa ni Coach Sean, medyo hindi ko nagawa kasi hindi ko pa kabisado yung mga play. Sana sa next game, makabawi ako,” Cabonilas told reporters on Sunday afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Sa punto ko, hindi ko akalain na nagawa ko ’yon kasi ginagawa ko lang yung role ko. Kung ano yung role ko, may tiwala naman ako sa mga teammates ko. Kung ano yung pinapagawa nila, gagawin ko lang, rebound or whatever.”
After dominating the UAAP boys’ basketball ranks and winning championships in Seasons 85 and 88, the Digos City, Davao del Sur native now faces a daunting challenge: going up against more physical and formidable opponents at the collegiate level.
Still, Cabonilas is embracing the challenge. And it helps knowing that he has the support of former high school teammates Janrey Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, Jedric Daa, Marc Burgos, Sam Hall, and Yosef Raneses.
“Galing ako sa juniors. Medyo magkaiba sila ng level kasi dito parang college na ito eh. Rookie ako, first time ko sumabay sa mga kuya at mas matanda sa akin. Gagawin ko lang yung tama at yung best ko,” Cabonilas explained.
“Masaya naman kasi kasama ko sila ngayon. Sa outside, parang nagtatawanan lang kami. Pero pagdating sa loob ng court, magkakampi kami. Magtiwala kami sa lahat at ginagawa lang namin yung best namin,” he went on.
Further adding to Cabonilas’ confidence is the unwavering faith that third-year head coach Sean Chambers has in the lanky 6-foot-5 forward.
With his familiarity with Pasaol and company and the belief of a seasoned tactician like Chambers, Cabonilas vows to bounce back in FEU’s next game against UE on Saturday, September 26, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“Actually, malaki yung tiwala niya sa akin kasi lahat ng pinagawa ni Coach Sean, ginagawa ko lang din yung role ko. Tiwala rin naman ako sa mga teammates ko; tinutulungan nila akong umangat,” Cabonilas shared.
From Chambers’ point of view, Cabonilas did not look like a nervous rookie, going toe-to-toe with Adamson’s Monty Montebon, Mat Edding, and Matt Erolon.
Still, Chambers believes FEU can recover from a dampening debut in its hosting season, with Pasaol, Jorick Bautista, and Mongcopa all ready to complement Cabonilas’ all-around brilliance.
“No, he did not. I thought some of our other guys played a little tight because of the expectations. But Cabs played extremely well. Only thing, he’s still learning some of the things we do in playing at the wing,” Chambers said.
“Cabs is phenomenal. And I felt he was the only one that played freely and that’s who Cab is. So we have to make sure that we bounce back next game. So we don’t want him to feel that anxiety of trying to do it all. So he played freely, he got great offensive rebounds, he had putbacks.”
