UAAP champion, TV host, entrepreneur, SK Kagawad, Gilas Cadet.
Those were the many hats Chris Tiu wore back in 2008.
During that time, a wide-eyed Tiu had been coming off a six-year stay in Ateneo de Manila University. Immediately, he was made part of batch of fresh graduates who were tasked to form the first iteration of Gilas Pilipinas.
Together with Jvee Casio, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Barroca, Japeth Aguilar, Mac Baracael, and Jason Ballesteros, they made their Asian Games debut in 2010.
They were reinforced by Jimmy Alapag, Sol Mercado, Kelly Williams, and Asi Taulava.
Though they finished in sixth place in Guangzhou, Tiu still looks back on the time with wonder.
“I remember in that Asian Games, all the teams really sent their A teams. They sent all their veterans and they really prepared for it. Iran, Japan, Korea, China, everybody was competitive,” he looked back with wonder.
“Iba yung experience.
“We were with legends, billiards legends. Efren Bata, sila Django. It was a star-studded event and we players get starstrucked with our own Philippine delegates. It’s fun,” he admitted.
Eight years later, a more experienced Tiu is coming off his 17th conference with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Immediately, he and the core of the team were tasked to join a hastily-formed Gilas Pilipinas team.
Together with Gabe Norwood, Paul Lee, Beau Belga, Don Trollano, James Yap, and Maverick Ahanmisi, he will make his return to the Asian Games.
They will be reinforced by Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, Poy Erram, and, yes, Asi Taulava.
The team plans to finish higher than seventh place in Jakarta, and Tiu is looking forward to it, as it might be his last dance for the National Team.
“This could be my last international tournament. I don’t plan to play basketball forever,” he shared.
“I think the timing of this can’t be better, at least for me personally.
“It’s a little late notice and it’s going to be an uphill climb. There’s a lot of pressure for sure but just the chance to wear this jersey and to represent our country in this stage, in this kind of competition, I’m really grateful and I will do what I can to help the team become successful somewhat,” he added.
In 2018, Chris Tiu still wears a lot of hats:
PBA champion, TV host, entrepreneur, citizen, Gilas Elite.
