Jhustin Hallare didn’t have the ideal start to his UAAP journey.
Competing in both the 16-and-under and 19-and-under divisions, Hallare and the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) struggled mightily, finishing with a combined 0-28 record across both tournaments.
But the tide slowly began to turn for the young guard.
Hallare, who was named to the Mythical Team of the UAAP Junior High School Boys Tournament and later crowned the High School Boys MVP, led UPIS to a breakthrough third-place finish in the JHS 3×3 tournament — a welcome change after a string of winless outings.
“Third place is not bad. We’ll take it,” he said.
Just a month later, the 15-year-old standout earned a spot on the Gilas Boys roster for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 SEABA Qualifiers — a significant milestone in his young career.
“I’m so happy. I’ve been working hard, working every day, and [I’m] glad that I made it to Gilas Youth,” he added.
Standing at 5-foot-11, Hallare shared that the Gilas tryouts were an eye-opener. Faced with stiffer competition, he realized the importance of adapting his game — not just to score, but to contribute in other ways that benefit the team.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Sa Gilas tryouts, everyone was bigger, so I had to be much more competitive,” he said.
“It’s not just heart sa Gilas, it’s more on utak gagamitin mo — it’s how you make the team better and just be a role player.”
Over the years, only a select few from UPIS have cracked the Gilas Youth lineup, including Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Will Gozum, and Diego Dario. Now, Hallare adds his name to that exclusive list.
“It’s a huge honor to be a part of that list,” he said.
“I promise to make the school proud during the tournament.”
More than anything, Hallare is looking forward to learning under seasoned mentors like LA Tenorio and Gabe Norwood. He believes the lessons he’ll gain from them will prove invaluable when he returns to UPIS.
“Very excited, very good pros. Just excited to learn under them.
“I’ll just continue to work hard with the coaches. It’s really big for me because ang dami kong pinagdaanan to be in that position. Couldn’t be more thankful to my family for helping me,” he closed.
