JP Maguliano was a former Adamsonian. Take note, though: he was not a Soaring Falcon.
But the 19-year-old had always dreamed of being part of a varsity team, especially after playing in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa to represent Region II.
He had to make a move if he wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a student-athlete. And he was able to do so by crossing the street of San Marcelino to enroll in EAC.
“John Paul is just a walk-in tryout from Adamson. He walked in last summer, he told us, sir pwede ba mag-try out?,” recalled third-year Generals head coach Ariel Sison.
“Sabi ko walang problema.”
“Hindi ako pinalad na kunin ng ibang school kaya nag-aral ako sa Adamson, sariling ano po ‘yun. Walang scholar, aral lang,” added Magaliano. “Hangga’t sa nainggit ako sa tropa kong LJ Gonzales [incoming FEU Tamaraws rookie]. Sinubukan mag-try out sa EAC.
“Thank God kasi pinagbigyan ako nila coach.”
The dreamer from Isabela was immediately thrown into the fire by Sison, as he was part of the EAC-Batangas Generals in the PBA D-League. And Maguliano made sure to seize the moment by impressing Sison, leading to his promotion to the lead Generals squad for the NCAA Season 94 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
But EAC could not break through in their first four games of the season – they even suffered a humiliating 46-61 loss to the San Beda Red Lions. Maguliano was a DNP in the game.
“Kaya lang mga previous game niya, medyo natataranta siya. Kinakausap ko siya palagi, sinabi ko magisip siya,” shared Sison.
“Panoorin mo yung game, kung ano nangyayari until binunot ko siya kanina.”
Wanting to make changes, Sison gave his second- and third-stringers a chance against the San Sebastian Golden Stags. Again, Maguliano seized the moment.
The 6-foot-2 forward was unstoppable in the contest, finishing with FSA-like numbers of 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting and 17 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. The numbers he posted were way above his 2.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in the three games he previously played.
More importantly, the Generals ended their skid with a 79-77 overtime win over the Golden Stags.
It was his way of giving back to the school who gave him a chance to chase his dream.
“Nung una, nawawalan na ako dati ng pagasa kasi mag-third year na ako sa Adamson nun. Parang nawawalan ako ng pag-asa. Tapos nagka-bagsak ako tapos parang kapag bumagsak, wala nang patutunguhan,” he disclosed.
“Sabi ko, mag-try out ako sa EAC, ‘pag pinalad, magfo-focus ako dito,” he admitted.
“Mahirap kasi maraming nagsasabi na ang laki mo, hindi mo ginagamit. Kaya nag pursige ako.”
