Captain Hook begins his redemption story
With 9:03 to go in the second quarter, and with the score at 39-32 in favor of NLEX Road Warriors, the Globalport Batang Pier decided to make a substitution. Ryan Araña had just asked to be subbed out of the game.
Taking his place was a six-footer with a lean frame and a shaved head. He made his way onto the court, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.
On came Mac Cardona, who has finally returned to the PBA after over a year.
Wanting to prove that he is ready, Cardona was aggressive, scoring his first bucket in more than a year with 8:32 left in the same frame. The last time he had thrown a shot in the pro league was back in April 15, 2016, when he was still with NLEX.
The 35-year-old — who’d had a rough 2016 where he was comatose due to drug overdose — finished with four points in the eight minutes he played. And he is overjoyed as he makes his way back into the PBA.
“Sobrang happy ko na nakapaglaro ulit ako ng basketball,” said Cardona after the match, where the Batang Pier lost, 99-109, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“‘Di ko inexpect na makakapaglaro ako sa PBA since nung nangyari sa akin last year.
“‘Di ko alam na may kukuha pa sa akin, kaya thankful ako kay Coach Franz (Pumaren), kay boss Mikee Romero, kay Erick Arejola na binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na ipakita na kaya ko maglaro,” he added.
As Cardona, who returned to basketball through the PBA D-League, graced the PBA court once more to signal the resumption of his pro career, the La Salle legend admitted that his return made him feel like a neophyte again.
“Parang rookie talaga,” quipped Cardona, the fifth pick of Air21 in the 2005 Draft. “‘Di ko mga alam ano itsura ko sa court, basta happy lang ako na nasa PBA ulit ako, nakita ko ulit yung mga tao na masaya sila na naglalaro ako.”
And aside from feeling like a rookie, what gave Cardona even more chills was his reunion with Pumaren, with whom he had won two championships during their days in at the De La Salle University.
“Kinilabutan nga ako, na parang feeling ko nasa UAAP ako,” he said.
People deserve second chances, as they say, and Cordona has just been given his own. The situation he went through was undeniably tough, but he has already moved on.
Now, all that Cardona has in mind is to rekindle the flame within him — the flame that ignited Captain Hook.
“Kung anuman nangyari in the past, alam ko may pagkakamali ako doon. For me move on na lang, kasi wala na ‘ko magagawa doon,” said Cardona.
“Naka-move on na ako sa lahat. Moving forward na.”
