Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

‘Dream come true’ for Mike Tolomia as he finally gets FEU diploma


He may be living a life others could only wish for, but it doesn’t mean Mike Tolomia has stopped chasing dreams.

Just last week, the Meralco Bolts point guard proudly marched along with many other graduates in PICC, as he finally earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports and Recreational Management degree in Far Eastern University.

“Siyempre dream come true.

“Kasi simula pagkabata yun yung pangarap ng mga magulang natin para sa’tin eh,” he told Tiebreaker Times. “Yung pinangako ko sa kanila na tatapusin ko pagaaral ko, ginawa ko at natupad ko.”

The three-year pro had actually wanted to finish his studies right after his last UAAP stint with the Tamaraws in 2015, but he was not able to do so as his schedule turned hectic due to the career opportunities that came in his way.

In 2016, while playing for the Phoenix Accelerators in the PBA D-League, Tolomia was named to the new Gilas Pilipinas that was also known as Gilas 5.0 — a talent pool that consisted of the top amateur players in the country then.

That particular group would see action in the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup in Tehran, Iran about a month later, so that made Tolomia attend practices twice in a day — one with the Accelerators, and the other with the national team.

His national team duties would continue even if he had gone pro already. In 2017, Tolomia was part of the Gilas Cadets squad that saw action in both the William Jones Cup in Taiwan and the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.graduation-mike-tolomia-2-225x300 'Dream come true' for Mike Tolomia as he finally gets FEU diploma Basketball FEU News PBA  - philippine sports news

“Kaya medyo tumagal kasi nahirapan ako ma-balance yung oras.

“Kahit nung after college, nag-Cadets pa ‘ko, so dalawang beses ako nagpa-practice sa isang araw,” Tolomia said. “So, hindi ako nakakapasok, kaya medyo tumagal.”

But he really wanted to pursue it. So around last year, with a bit of time on his side, he decided to enroll again.

#ReadMore  Despite plethora of clutch performers, Austria puts game on Chris McCollough's shoulders

It hadn’t still been easy, though. He had to juggle his time between academics and his duties with the Orangemen. But here is now, standing proud that he finally finished his studies despite the long journey he had taken.

“Kahit matagal, at least natapos ko,” said Tolomia, who will forever have his name etched in FEU’s history books as he helped the school end its decade-old title drought in the UAAP in 2015.

“Kahit nasa PBA na ‘ko, tinapos ko pa rin.”

With this recent success, everybody who knows Tolomia is proud of him. Count Meralco head coach Norman Black in.

“Una kong nasabihan si coach Norman, kasi magpapaalam ako kasi baka mag-miss ako ng practice sa graduation ko,” the 26-year-old shared with a chuckle.

“Nung una, parang ‘di pa siya makapaniwala na gagraduate ako.

“Pero pinakitaan ko siya ng picture ko na nagpa-grad pic ako, yun, naniwala na siya. Sabi niya sobrang proud siya sa’kin na nakagraduate ako,” added Tolomia, who’s been playing under the Grand Slam coach in Meralco since 2017.

Stories of professional athletes finishing their studies despite their lofty status will never get old. Ever. So for Tolomia, he hopes that his fellow pros who are thinking of earning their degrees will push through with their plans.

“Talagang kung may panahon sila, sana tapusin nila. Kasi yun yung magiging fallback mo eh,” the proud son of Zamboanga City said. “Siyempre lagi naman natin naririnig na hindi forever ang basketball, so dapat talaga nakapag-tapos ka or may diploma ka.

“Para kung sakaling matapos ng maaga yung career mo, may fallback ka.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.




You May Also Like

ADMU

At just 26 years old, Sandro Soriano has already walked the path most coaches spend decades trying to pave. From being a student manager...

Basketball

The wait was indeed worth it for San Miguel. After a full year, the Beermen finally got back at the very same team that...

Basketball

DUBAI – Meralco collapsed in the third and ultimately bowed to Ulaanbaatar Xac, 83-78, in a bitter end to its Basketball Champions League Asia...

Basketball

DUBAI – Meralco is preparing to face another team from East Asia in the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025 quarterfinals on June...

Basketball

DUBAI — Jordon Varnado and Meralco heard all the criticisms thrown their way and the whole team took it personally, from the looks of...

Basketball

DUBAI — Meralco punched its ticket to the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCLAsia) 2025 quarterfinals following a resounding 97-86 win over Utsunomiya on Sunday...

Basketball

DUBAI – Meralco fizzled out and ultimately bowed to Shabab Al Ahli, 101-87, in a rough start to its Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL...

Basketball

Meralco will be leaning on reinforcements that boast of Basketball Champions League (BCL) experience as it goes up against Asia’s best in Dubai. The...

Advertisement