Sherwin Concepcion is having a dream week. And he hopes that he never wakes up from it.
Just a month after a somber end to the UAAP Season 84 5-on-5 basketball campaign, the 25-year-old native of Tarlac got a call of a lifetime — a phone call from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“Biglaan lang tumawag si Boss Butch Antonio kay Fr. Rodel [Cansancio],” recalled Growling Tigers head coach Jinino Manansala.
“Hindi namin akalain na aabot siya sa Gilas pero the way he played nung Season 84, he deserves to be in Gilas.”
Gilas needed shooters — loads of them — especially after their second place finish in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
During the season, Concepcion averaged 10.64 points on 29.7-percent shooting from deep.
Concepcion certainly fits the bill.
“Siyempre sobrang blessed ako kasi napabilang ako sa team na ganiyan,” said the 6-foot-2 Concepcion. “Madaming gustong makarating diyan.
“Yung pinagtrabahuan ko siguro nagbunga lang pero parang panaginip pa rin.”
But before heading to Gilas, Concepcion made sure to give honor to UST first.
And he made sure to not waste the golden opportunity to do so in the UAAP Season 84 Men’s 3×3 basketball tournament.
Concepcion put on a showcase at Casobe Resort in Calatagan, Batangas, firing on all cylinders during the two-day affair.
And he capped his masterpiece with a 12-point performance against De La Salle University to give the Espana school its first crown of the season.
“Sobrang saya na napasok ko. Lagi ko pinagdarasal yun at lahat binibigay ko sa UST,” the tournament MVP said about his miracle championship-winner.
During the past two months, Concepcion faced off with the likes of Ateneo’s Dave Ildefonso and SJ Belangel; UP’s Carl Tamayo and Ricci Rivero; and FEU’s RJ Abarrientos.
Now, he gets to train alongside them.
“Siyempre una, excited kasi nung UAAP magkakalaban kami now irerepresent namin yung country,” expressed the soft-spoken Concepcion.
For Manansala, he wants to tell coach Nenad Vucinic that having Concepcion in the national team will not disappoint him.
“Sherwin naman, nandiyan yan. Born-shooter na yan at nagtratrabaho ng mabuti. Nakuha siya sa Gilas at talagang nagpupursige siya,” said the UST lifer.
And Concepcion vows to do anything Gilas wants him to do both in practice and in games.
“Mapapangako ko lang ay gagawin ko yung best ko at gagawin ko lahat ng papagawa ng coaches. Gusto kong makatulong at ma-experience tong Gilas.”
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