Having been away from basketball for over a year, as he focused on his aspirations outside of the sport, Jeric Fortuna has missed that particular feeling of playing the game that he loves.
After playing for Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League last April 2017, Fortuna took on another career path when he enrolled in an aviation course at Omni Aviation Corporation.
“Nakaka-miss ang basketball,” admitted the 26-year-old.
To alleviate those feelings, Fortuna reached out to people, such as his UST Growling Tigers coach Pido Jarencio, who is currently manning the sidelines of the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA.
“Sa totoo lang, ako nag-text kay coach Pido na, ‘Coach, puwede bang maki-practice lang?’” confessed Fortuna, the 14th overall pick of the 2013 PBA Draft by the now-defunct Barako Bull Energy.
But little did he know that one simple text would change his life again.
The Batang Pier are currently looking for players, as the injury bug has hit them hard. So when Fortuna wanted to practice with the team, Jarencio apparently picked him up to fill the needed spots.
“Wala naman akong ine-expect.
“Wala rin naman silang pinangako sa akin. Medyo ano, kulang sa players tas na-injure si [Nico] Elorde bigla. Yun. Na-lineup ako bigla,” recalled the 5-foot-8 Fortuna.
With him in the lineup, a UST reunion suddenly happened, as he got to reunite with fellow Thomasians Jarencio and Jeric Teng — the three have shared lots of battles together in the UAAP.
“Yung first practice ko masaya. Winelcome nila ako kaagad,” shared Fortuna. “At saka yung sistema ni coach noong parang college lang kami. Medyo madali lang ang transition sa akin.”
Fortuna made his PBA return – he last played in the league back in 2016, also with the Batang Pier – on Saturday, as NorthPort took on the Magnolia Hotshots in 2018 Governors’ Cup action.
It wasn’t the return he wanted, as the Batang Pier lost 87-104, but Fortuna made the most out of the 21 minutes he played as he had four rebounds, four dimes, and two points.
The two-time PBA champion with San Miguel Beermen, however, is just happy to be back where he truly belongs.
“Masaya, kasi siyempre nakaka-miss ang basketball,” said Fortuna, who also has an ABL championship under his belt. “Pero not in game shape, medyo kinapos noong second half.”
But what will happen to his dreams of becoming a pilot?
“Oo, [on hold muna]. Ipagpapatuloy pa naman. Sa school naman namin, at your own pace naman eh. Kahit kailan puwede bumalik.”
