By: Jerod Orcullo
In a season filled with struggles, one constant for Ateneo High School has been the steady leadership of Chris Urbina.
The 17-year-old floor general has embraced the challenge of guiding a rebuilding Blue Eagles squad, proving that impact goes far beyond the stat sheet.
On Thursday, Ateneo stunned University of the East with a hard-fought 64-56 victory — only their second win of the season.
And while Urbina’s shooting numbers didn’t stand out, his presence on the court was undeniable.
Through 10 games, the Mandaluyong native has averaged 13.2 points, 5.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while starting in every single contest.
Though his numbers may not be as eye-catching as some of the league’s top stars — such as DLSZ’s Kieffer Alas, FEU’s Cabs Cabonilas, and Adamson’s Mark Esperanza — Urbina’s impact lies in his leadership.
Following their win against UE, where Urbina shot just 20.0% from the field, head coach Ford Arao emphasized that his scoring is merely a bonus for the team.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Actually, si Chris, anything na scoring bonus para sa’min. Ang pinaka-importante kay Chris is, of course, yung leadership niya on the court,” Arao said.
“The way mag-isip siya, para siyang coach. May mga times na may mga gusto akong itawag, iwe-wave off niya ako, sasabihin niya, ‘Coach, mas maganda ‘to.’”
In an interview with Tiebreaker Times, Urbina shared that his primary goal is to set an example for his teammates, particularly his juniors like Zane Kallos and YJ Lacsamana.
“Just trying to set a good example for them and show them that even if things aren’t going your way, you can still impact the court in many other ways.”
As it stands, the Blue Eagles are on the outside looking in on the Final Four race, sitting at 2-8 in the tournament.
Still, Urbina remains focused on the road ahead, with games remaining against University of Santo Tomas, National University, Far Eastern University-Diliman, and University of the Philippines Integrated School.
“Just like I’ve said in other interviews, we’re just taking it one day at a time, one game at a time. We can’t look too far ahead, and we also can’t dwell on the past,” said Urbina.
“We just have to stay in the moment.”
