Ralph Cu has had a memorable year so far.
To kick off the year, Tim Cone, his head coach in Ginebra, made him part of Gilas Pilipinas’ bubble training at Inspire Sports Academy, serving as a practice player.
In the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup, the 6-foot-4 winger has started both of the Gin Kings’ games, both resulting in victories.
Not bad for someone who was cut by his college coach for his senior year, right?
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” expressed Cu, who celebrated his 27th birthday by dropping 12 points – all from downtown – in Ginebra’s 102-92 win over Phoenix on Sunday.
“I think this is the most opportunity I’ve had my whole life. Even in college, I was a bench player. I just want to make the most of the opportunities given to me.”
Looking back, Cu, a product of Xavier School, flew under the radar.
After giving La Salle silver in the UAAP Season 84 Men’s 3×3 Basketball Tournament, then-Green Archers head coach Derrick Pumaren cut him and his good pal Donn Lim from the team.
But that did not stop Cu from his basketball journey.
He joined Ginebra’s 3×3 team, working on his craft there.
Then in the last draft, he was picked as the 23rd overall pick in a stacked class.
“It’s very overwhelming, but I trust my work. I just want to be able to help the team in whatever way I can,” he recalled.
(C) PBA Images
Against Phoenix, Cu came up big in a pivotal third-quarter run, knocking down three triples to turn Ginebra’s 47-43 lead into a 79-62 margin.
However, Cone no longer feels surprised by what Cu gives to the team.
“Nobody really knows Ralph all that much, but we see him every day in practice. We are very, very comfortable if he takes shots,” he said.
“I noticed their defense was giving me the shot. They wanted me to shoot the ball, and I just wanted to make them pay. It would open the guys if we hit those shots,” chimed Cu.
Cu does not want to come down from the high he is currently on.
And he vows to continue to put in the work so that he can be a fixture in Ginebra’s rotation.
“Hopefully, I become more consistent,” he said.
But for now, he has one thing to worry about.
“Our three-point shooting led by our birthday boy… He tried to sneak into our team, not letting anyone know that it was his birthday, and he got caught,” quipped Cone.
“He is in trouble with the team now, and he has to buy them a pizza or something.”
