By: Joaquin Cortez
Like many standout juniors from the Grand Old League before him, NCAA Season 101 Finals MVP Justin Cargo could have followed the familiar path from the high school ranks to the UAAP.
Instead, the 6-foot guard from Negros Occidental chose to stay with Colegio de San Juan de Letran and continue his development with the Knights. Three games into his collegiate career, that decision is already looking like the right one.
The former Squires star — who helped steer Letran to the Season 101 juniors crown and earned Finals MVP honors — finally enjoyed his first breakout moment on the seniors stage.
“Masaya. Pinagtrabahuhan ko naman po ‘to,” said the 20-year-old Cargo after his breakout performance.
“Sinusunod ko lang ‘yong pinapagawa sa akin, lalo na ‘yong defense.”
Against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Thursday, Cargo paced the Knights with a career-high 22 points, along with three rebounds and two steals, to power Letran past the Generals.
Cargo’s emergence has not surprised head coach Allen Ricardo, who has long believed that the former Squires leader possessed the tools to make an immediate impact at the next level.
“Well, for Justin Cargo, it’s all about the character,” Ricardo said.
“‘Yan talaga ‘yong nakita ko sa kanya since high school, kaya hindi ako nagdalawang-isip na kunin siya. Alam ko kung ano ‘yong kaya niyang ibigay.”
(C) NCAA
Cargo’s decision to remain with Letran also stands out at a time when several former NCAA Juniors MVPs have opted to continue their careers in the UAAP.
Among the notable names who made the jump are former NCAA Juniors MVPs Amiel Acido, JD Cagulangan, Luis Pablo, and Lebron Jhames Daep, while Sean Franco recently transferred to University of the Philippines.
Cargo admitted that there was interest from UAAP schools during the recruitment process, although he declined to identify which programs reached out. In the end, however, staying with Letran offered him something he valued more than a change of scenery.
“Una-una, as a player, kailangan ko rin ng playing time kung saan ako magagamit,” Cargo said.
“No’ng pag-ensayo ko pa lang sa Letran, nakita ko na magagamit talaga ako dito. Sabi naman ni Coach Allen, talagang may plano siya para sa akin.”
That trust has already translated into a larger role for the Knights, with Cargo thriving in Letran’s up-tempo system while adjusting to the physicality and speed of the collegiate game.
“Siguro ‘yong maturity lang po at ‘yong pagiging mas patient,” Cargo said when asked about the biggest adjustment from juniors to seniors.
After watching Letran fall short in last season’s NCAA Finals, the rookie guard is determined to help bring the Knights back to the championship stage.
“’Yong natalo sila last year, siyempre naramdaman ko rin kung gaano kasakit ‘yong pakiramdam na matalo sa finals,” he said.
“Goal namin ngayong season na makabawi, makabalik sa finals, at makuha ‘yong championship this year.”
