Cholo Anonuevo isn’t letting his injury-riddled past keep him from pursuing his ultimate goal of playing basketball at the highest level.
The 6-foot-5 wing endured multiple stints on the sidelines throughout his collegiate career, most notably suffering two ACL injuries.
His lengthy physical battles, however, have not diminished his love for the game.
Instead, they have opened another avenue for him to stay involved in basketball, with Far Eastern University head coach Sean Chambers offering him an opportunity to join the coaching staff as an assistant coach last year.
Working under Chambers has given Anonuevo a different perspective on the game while allowing him to help familiar faces at his alma mater.
“Under Coach Sean naman, just a different perspective of basketball from player to coaching. Mas nakakatulong din ako kasi kilala ko rin ‘yung mga player, mga nakasama ko sa dorm dati, at naging teammate ko,” he shared.
“Mas nakakatulong ako as coaching staff right now dahil tapos na din playing years ko.”
Balancing his responsibilities with the Tamaraws and his playing career with the Quezon Huskers in the MPBL remains a matter of priorities for the former Tamaraw.
After years of rehabilitation, uncertainty, and hard work, Anonuevo is finally getting another opportunity to prove himself on the court.
“With my time, sakto lang din sa practice namin sa Quezon tapos diretso ako sa FEU. Sa mga games or practice, if kaya ko, pupunta ako, but priority ko pa rin naman is being a player,” he explained.
On Saturday, Anonuevo delivered a highlight-reel poster dunk on a fastbreak in the Huskers’ semifinals-clinching victory over Zamboanga in the MPBL South Division Quarterfinals.
The highlight served as a much-needed confidence boost for the 25-year-old winger, who had been waiting for an opportunity to show what he could do on the court again.
“Just very happy kasi after how many years na nag-antay talaga ako at pinagtrabahuhan, ‘di ko alam kung makakabalik na ako sa dati. At least alam ko na the work that I put in and the trust ng coaches sa akin,” he said.
Despite his return to competitive basketball, Anonuevo knows that his journey is far from over. With the playoffs taking precedence, he remains focused on making the most of his opportunity with the Huskers before deciding on his next move.
With his games with the Huskers, Anonuevo’s stock has definitely risen for the upcoming 2027 PBA Draft.
“Di ko pa alam eh. Depende pa sa akin kasi focused talaga ako sa playoffs, and alam ko sa sarili ko na parang kulang pa,” he said when asked about the possibility of declaring for the draft.
“Hindi naman sa kulang ‘yung laro ko, pero kulang ako sa laro dahil how many years I’ve been out of the game and ngayon lang ako nakita ulit so depende talaga.”
For now, Anonuevo remains focused on the Huskers and their ongoing playoff run. His stint with Quezon serves as an opportunity to readjust to full-time basketball and rebuild his confidence, while finally showcasing the skills he has worked so hard to bring back after years away from the game.
