It’s been two years since Darrell Menina left Mapua University. His journey led him from Intramuros to Sampaloc, and eventually back to Cebu.
And he is just glad that he is home.
After things didn’t pan out for him with the National University a year ago, the 5-foot-10 gunner out of Talisay decided that it was best for him to play for the University of Cebu.
“Sarap ng feeling. Ngayon, naglalaro kami in front of my hometown,” expressed Menina.
Besides playing for the Webmasters, Dondon Hontiveros also tasked Menina to play for his team Max4-Birada Cebu in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Patriot’s Cup presented by Coca-Cola.
It was the icing on the cake that Menina needed to completely say that he is back home.
“Special talaga siya. Para[ng] siyang Gilas eh. ‘Di ba nakalagay sa harap, Pilipinas? Ganun din dito kasi Cebu yung nasa jersey ko,” he said.
“Sarap sa feeling na dala mo yung province mo.”
But just like in Mapua, Menina is still as lethal as ever.
After suffering a 14-21 loss to Phenom-Basilan Steel to open their campaign, Menina lifted his side to a 21-12 win over MiGuard-Vigan Wolves in their final outing to end their Pool C campaign with a 1-1 record.
Though they were unable to get out of the pool stages, he made sure the Cebuano squads ended up with a victory to end the day.
“First time ko mag-3x. Pangarap ko ito dati pa eh,” he shared.
“May basketball court kami sa namin dati pero halfcourt lang. Tagal ko nang gusto maglaro ng 3x kasi nga nakikita ko sa TV na lumalaki na yung larong ito,” he continued.
“Last conference dapat kasama ko sila Rey [Suerte], kaso may isang player na gusto ni coach palaruin, kaya nag-give way ako. Pero gusto ko talaga maglaro dito kaya sumali ako.”
Now that he gets a chance to play in the country’s pioneering 3×3 league, Menina is out to show the country that he was never gone.
“Sabi ni coach Dondon, ito yung opportunity ko na maibalik yung apelyido ko. Two years na eh. Para sa family ko rin kasi may anak na rin ako,” he said.
“Inspired ako maglaro para sa kanya at makabalik ng Manila ‘pag may offer.”
