Unlike his seniors Gerry Abadiano, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao, Terrence Fortea was not granted an opportunity to play out his final year for Nazareth School of National University.
All of the UAAP Season 83 tournaments have been scrapped due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Still, the 19-year-old Fortea relishes his time with the Bullpups.
“‘Yung championship na back-to-back championship, sobrang kahit ‘pag nire-reminisce ko ‘yung nangyari sobrang saya eh. ‘Yung mga ensayo na pagudan na halos six hours kayo nagtre-training kasi minsan twice pa kayo. Mga ganong bagay kaya nakaka-miss din,” shared Fortea, who is in Grade 12, during an episode of The Prospects Pod presented by SMART Sports.
“Masaya ‘yung pinagdaanan sa dalawang championship na ‘yun.”
The 6-foot-1 is clearly a sought-after prospect as he heads to the next chapter of his young career.
In UAAP Season 82, he averaged 15.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.
One of the many options Fortea has is to either lead the rebuilding National University, join Abadiano and Tamayo in University of the Philippines, or be with Quiambao in De La Salle University.
“Minsan nagde-DM sila sa akin, ‘kumusta na.’ ganyan, saan ba ako ganyan. Nakakatuwa lang na naaalala pa rin nila and gusto pa rin nila ako maging teammate,” expressed Fortea.
Even Ateneo-commit Forthsky Padrigao joined in the sweepstakes.
“Pwede naman dito,” quipped Padrigao, a teammate of his in Batang Gilas.
“Lugi sa puwestuhan kay Forth, King Eagle yan eh,” answered Fortea.
Fortea is not rushing into his decision since he still has almost six months before graduating from secondary school.
But for him, he is looking at just one factor – a quality education.
“Siyempre gusto namin makapagtapos din ng pag-aaral and makapag-pro. ‘Yung ano ba, ‘yung nakikita nila sa akin na plan sa team. Kasi ako, gagawin ko talaga lahat eh. ‘Yun naman ‘yung mapra-promise ko kung saan man ako pupunta eh. Gagawin ko talaga lahat ng makakaya ko paano mag-grow as a player and as a person,” he said.
“Hindi rin naman ako magiging mapili and siguro family decision lang din.”
