The rise of social media has made it easier to find talent
And, one prime example is the developing career of Alab Pilipinas forward Lawrence Domingo.
In sports, talent acquisition is a tedious duty to work on. Trips from place to place, gathering player information, numerous scouting reports, and a lot more are done just to monitor desired, on-the-radar players.
But in today’s current era, everything is much faster now, all thanks to the internet. And the 24-year-old Filipino-American owes one to the power the wired world is harnessing.
Several months ago, Domingo finished his collegiate career with NCAA Division II school Eastern New Mexico University, where he posted norms of 10.6 points and 4.7 boards a game.
After his stint in the collegiate ranks, the combo forward out of California was left with no agent — no middle man or broker or whoever that can help him pursue a career after college ball.
“After I was done playing there, I didn’t have an agent. My college coach did not help me because he ended up leaving the school,” Domingo recalled, pertaining to his former ENMU coach Stott Carter.
Left with no other options, the six-foot-five Domingo decided to hand out his mixtape to his friends. But, he was not expecting that the said tape will create a turning point in his career.
“I just gave my highlight tape to a couple of my friends and they decided to post it on Facebook. Then it came across sports agent Charlie Dy.
“I’m assuming he showed coach and they liked what they saw. They gave me a shot to play in the ABL and I’m blessed to have this opportunity,” said Domingo.
From there, Domingo’s career in the Philippines has kickstarted and is now progressing, all thanks to his friends — and of course, to the magic brought by the social media site.
In his first season as a pro, Domingo is creating a name for himself as a solid contributor for Alab, logging in 10.5 points along with 4.25 boards and 0.5 blocks per outing in their four assignments.
Domingo’s star shone the brightest against Kaohsiung Truth last December 4. Ace guard Ray Parks, Jr. exploded for 30 markers, but Domingo was the talk of the town that night after his noteworthy performance.
The athletic forward scored 21 points on an efficient 9 of 12 shooting from the field, mostly from putbacks and point-blank shots. And the fact that he did such over towering Kaohsiung imports was impressive.
Domingo has been providing quality minutes and steadiness for Alab, and he credits his performances to the hustle and energy that he executes whenever he is on the court.
“I’ve always been an energy player and I bring a lot of energy to the court. The fact that the crowd loves me for the energy I bring, I love it. That’s the type of player that I am,” Domingo proudly said.
The bulky post-up specialist is also thankful for the energy the home crowd brings to him and to Alab in their games, for it only helps them become better, according to the 24-year-old.
“It’s really great to have fans that are supportive even if you are at your worst. They’re still there giving you confidence.”
Alab is currently in the middle of the standings with an even 2-2 card — with their recent loss coming from Singapore Slingers, Domingo rued that there was no one to blame but themselves.
The season though is still early, and major turnarounds can still take place as the tournament progresses. But for Domingo, all that he desires is to help the Philippines stop its’ three-year title drought in the ABL.
“Right now, I’m very focused on this season and helping my team win the championship,” vowed Domingo.
At first, the Philippine contingent in the Southeast Asian pro league was being criticized as a one-man show due to Parks, Jr. But thanks to Domingo’s energy, Parks has finally found a sidekick.
And all of this is happening right before Domingo’s very eyes because of one Facebook upload.
