University of the Philippines Integrated School is off to a rough start as the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament, now an official sport, nears its conclusion.
The Fighting Maroons’ 16-and-under squad, a newly-formed team, remains winless through six games, enduring a challenging season with an average losing margin of 28.3 points, having fallen to the likes of Ateneo, UE, NU, FEU, Adamson, and UST.
However, amid their struggles, a silver lining has emerged for the young UPIS squad in the form of 15-year-old homegrown talent, Jhustin Hallare.
The promising young gun has been a standout despite the team’s 0-6 start, averaging an impressive 23.33 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.33 assists, and 1.33 steals per game.
Hallare hopes to follow in the footsteps of renowned UPIS basketball alumni, using this tough experience to fuel his growth.
Some of the most notable Maroons who transitioned from UPIS to collegiate basketball with UP include the De Liano brothers—Juan, now a guard for the Seoul SK Knights, and Javi, a forward for the Anyang Red Boosters—along with Meralco Bolts point guard Diego Dario, and current Fighting Maroons forward Aldous Torculas.
Despite his aspirations to follow this path, Hallare remains grounded and focused on the present.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I play basketball to enjoy. Darating naman yan. I’m a very hardworking person so I’ll just keep on playing, see what goes on kapag nag-juniors at nag-college ako,” said the 15-year-old guard after UPIS’ 53-87 loss to UST on Wednesday.
“Hopefully, ma0emulate ko yung path nila kasi grabe yung hinahangaan ko ‘eh, humahanga ako sa kanila. I’m just here to work hard, play, and do my best every single time.”
While Hallare admires each of the homegrown players who paved the way, one player he holds in particularly high regard is 20-year-old Aldous Torculas.
The third-year Fighting Maroons forward, who earned a spot on the Mythical Five during the Season 82 juniors’ tournament, has not only served as a role model but also as a mentor, providing much-needed guidance and encouragement to Hallare and his teammates as they continue their quest for their first win of the season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Ginu-goodluck kami, of course. Sabi niya, galingan every game, go all out. Grabeng idol ko rin yan si Kuya Aldous, one of the homegrown players that went to college. Mino-motivate niya kami lagi,” Hallare, a product of Claret School of Quezon City, shared.
