Before heading to the United States for the next chapter of his budding basketball career, 16-year-old Prince Carino is determined to squeeze every ounce of learning from his stint with Far Eastern University-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
For Carino, who signed a management deal with Wasserman last November, the jump to the 19-under ranks has come at the perfect time.
Facing more physical competition against perennial contenders like UST, NUNS, and Ateneo provides exactly the environment he needs before a grueling summer in the United States. There, he will first play in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League before eventually enrolling in a preparatory school.
“Malaking tulong po talaga yun sa akin kasi sa UAAP 19U po sobrang pisikalan na. Kaya nasasanay na po ako sa banggaan at sa mas matitigas na kalaban,” Carino told Tiebreaker Times.
After dominating the league’s 16-under tournament for the past two years — highlighted by two podium finishes and two Elite Team selections — Carino is now quickly adjusting to the more competitive nature of the 19-under division while also learning his role in a stacked Baby Tamaraws squad.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
He is also being tested by six foreign student-athletes across the league, including UST’s Ola Ajani, Ateneo’s Jude Eriobu, NUNS’ Moussa Diakite, DLSZ’s Yusuf Mikailu, UE’s Assouan Edoukou, and FEU-D’s Assan Gaye.
Carino, however, sees these challenges as necessary stepping stones in preparing for what lies ahead overseas and in his pursuit of following in the footsteps of Kai Sotto and Kieffer Alas — all of whom first played at the UAAP juniors’ level before taking their talents to the United States.
“Sa 19U po mas physical at mas mataas yung basketball IQ ng mga players, kaya kailangan mas mabilis mag-isip at kumilos. Yung mga natutunan ko po sa 16U tulad ng pagiging patient, pagsunod sa system, at paggawa ng tamang desisyon, ina-apply ko po dito,” the 6-foot-7 center from Imus, Cavite shared.
“Kahit po limitado minsan yung opportunities, sinisigurado ko po na ready ako at consistent sa effort para kapag kailangan ako, handa po ako makatulong sa team,” he went on.
“Mas lalo na at may mga FSA players pa na makakatulong sa akin maging mas ready sa next level. Nakakatulong din po siya sa confidence ko at sa pagiging mas ready ko sa mas mataas na level doon sa United States.”
To fully embrace the challenge and physicality of UAAP juniors’ basketball in preparation for his stint in the United States, Carino is grateful to have a quality mentor in Mike Reyes, a two-time UAAP champion coach.
“Lagi niya pong ina-advise sa akin na mag-focus sa effort, defense, at pagiging consistent araw-araw. Yung role ko po na binibigay niya sa akin is to attack every big man sa UAAP, kasi yun po talaga yung laro ko at kung ano po ako bilang player,” said Carino.
“Kailangan ko lang po siyang gawin araw-araw, maging aggressive, at magtiwala sa sarili ko.”
