Life’s challenges come and go, but for Far Eastern University-Diliman’s do-it-all guard Jheremy Godoy, the regret and pain of lost time and missed opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic still linger.
Nearly five years after starting his rise in basketball back in Manaoag, Pangasinan, Godoy’s dreams took a devastating hit when the pandemic struck in 2020, halting his aspirations to elevate his young career.
The 5-foot-9 guard watched helplessly as his ambitions of making it big in Manila slowly slipped away.
Like millions affected by the pandemic, Godoy had to put his basketball career on hold. Instead of honing his craft on the court, he worked as a construction laborer to help his family navigate the financial crisis brought on by the global shutdown.
But just as a mason carefully shapes and refines stone to build a home, Godoy found his way back, chiseling a path to reignite his basketball career.
His journey back began with a stint for Gilas Pilipinas Youth under former head coach Josh Reyes in the 2023 SEABA U-16 Championship in Indonesia, followed by a commitment to play for the Baby Tamaraws in the UAAP.
This time, there was no turning back. Godoy felt determined to make the most of his second chance.
He erased the pain and regret of the pandemic with the biggest moment of his young career — draining a buzzer-beating game-winner to lift FEU-D to a thrilling 97-95 double-overtime victory against the University of the East in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
With his clutch heroics and steady performances contributing to the Baby Tamaraws’ 4-1 start in the tournament, Godoy is slowly finding closure from the struggles he endured.
“Ang iniisip ko noon pag dumating yung bola sa akin, wala na akong oras na pwede sayangin kaya dapat i-tira ko na. Kasi sabi ni Coach Bert nung huddle, stay ready ka lang sa corner,” the 17-year-old guard told Tiebreaker Times.
Godoy went on, “Nung nakikita ko na lumalaban kami kahit nahahabol kami nung regulation tsaka sa overtime, mas na-motivate ako na ipapanalo ang team kahit hindi ko ine-expect sa akin mapupunta.”
He finished with eight points, six assists, five rebounds, and one steal in his heroic performance.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Assistant coach Bert Flores — who stepped in for head coach Denok Miranda while he was in Japan with FEU-D’s 16-and-under team — admitted that the game-winning play was originally drawn up for Cabs Cabonilas to set up an open right-corner three for Liam Salangsang.
However, with time running out, Cabonilas slipped on the floor but managed to find Godoy, who remained poised in the chaos, standing ready in the left corner for the game-winning jumper.
“Hindi ko talaga ine-expect kasi kay Cabs at kay Liam ‘yon ‘eh kung kaya niya i-tira, pero nakita niya ako at saktong sakto yung kickout pass niya sa akin. Ina-acknowledge ko rin kasi na role ko sa FEU ay tutulungan ko sila Marc [Burgos], Liam, at si Cabs sa kahit paanong paraan, at thankfully nakapag-deliver ako today,” Godoy explained.
“Sobrang saya kasi hindi ko ine-expect na ako magpapanalo sa team namin. Sa next games namin, yung role ko pa rin sa pagdepensa at sa pag-score, gagawin ko pa rin at tutulungan ko pa rin yung team,” he added.
For Flores, who has remained unbeaten since stepping in for Miranda, Godoy’s unwavering fighting spirit and dedication to doing whatever it takes to win are what set him apart.
He also praised Godoy’s maturity, noting that even at just 17 years old, the young guard demonstrated a readiness that many players lack.
“Si Liam dapat yung nasa corner na ‘yon ‘eh, hindi si Godoy, nagulat ako napunta kay Godoy. Sobrang thankful ako kay Godoy kasi kahit hindi siya yung nasa play, he stayed ready for his moment,” Flores said.
