Growing up, Matthew Aquino had always been part of fans’ Gilas wishlist.
Besides being the son of 1996 PBA Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference and 1997 Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP Marlou Aquino, Matt had height, standing at 6-foot-9.
But as the years went by, Matt never got a call-up. Not in Gilas Youth and not in Gilas Men. He was not even part of Chot Reyes’ 23-for-2023 Gilas Cadets back in 2018.
On Friday, he finally got his FIBA.basketball profile. But it was not for Gilas.
The Japan Basketball Association called Matt up to be part of the Akatsuki Five’s lineup against Chinese-Taipei in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ second window.
Matt finally fulfilled his destiny albeit in a different country.
“Sa totoo lang I’m so, so thankful and ecstatic,” he expressed to Tiebreaker Times. “Grabe yung training program namin for this tournament [under coach Tom Hovasse] and sobrang worth it lahat ng pagod at hirap. By God’s grace.
“Di lang ako natuto ng sobra pero grabe this is it, I’m finally going to play at a national level. Di ko ma express yung gratefulness, mabait ang Diyos sobra.”
Despite putting up a pedestrian line of 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 15 games played for Shinshu in the B.League, the 25-year-old product of National University was always part of the JBA’s pool.
He was called up to train at the Ajinomoto Training Center in Tokyo for the first window and, later on, the Asian Games.
The trainings itself were already of huge help for Matt. But getting to play for the national team? It brings him to a whole other level.
“Ang laking bagay nito, not only because I’m going to get to play for the nation of my grandma [Shizuko Toma], but also because of the many many things that I will learn,” he said. “Doon ako pinaka excited.
“Playing side-by-side and against the best players in this sport, ang laking honor.”
On Saturday, Matt and the Akatsuki Five will play in front of a sold-out crowd at the Okinawa Arena. Just the thought of it is giving him goosebumps already.
And entering his first-ever FIBA competition, Matt is beaming with confidence. After all, his mantra had always been, ‘Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.’
“Sobrang excited and nervous! I mean, I know I’m ready.
” Ito yung tinatrabaho ko for the longest time and basta ready lang ako, I’ll give my best, and contribute to the team. Basta ako gagawin ko lang role ko for the team, for Japan,” he said.
