CEBU CITY, Philippines – For someone who led CESAFI in points scored last season, it's a bit surprising to find out that the 23-year-old Joshua Romelle dela Cerna only started playing the sport at the age of 16.
“I grew up not having any interest in basketball nor with any other sport,” said Dela Cerna, who added that neither was he into video games.
It wasn't until the age of 16 that he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father Romeo, a former barangay league player who fell short of the varsity level.
Despite being a basketball fanatic, Dela Cerna said his father never forced him to play but just gave him guidance. Now, his father is present in every game that he plays.
The 6-toot-2 forward/center became a member of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in 2013. And, with only the barangay league tournaments as his experience, he immediately made it to CESAFI's Mythical five.
In his second year, he became the league's leading scorer after averaging more than 20 points per game.
This season, he has been named into the All-Star West Team of University of San Carlos head coach Britt Reroma, which takes place on September 27.
Dela Cerna said that he is surprised the sport has come naturally to him despite starting at an advanced age.
“Nahibong lang ko na I can play good, na kama-o nako, naa nakoi mga skills na magamit nako ig duwa (I marveled that I can play good, that I already know how to play, that I already had skills that I can use when I play),” Dela Cerna shared.
To make up for lost time, Dela Cerna says he practiced whenever he could find time.
“I have taken to always playing basketball and I make sure to win because I hate losing. And God is good because I have been named most valuable player in the barangay leagues from the time I started until now. Last summer I was again named MVP,” said Dela Cerna.
According to Dela Cerna, it has also helped that he often researched on the net about the basic techniques of basketball and he practices them at their home in Talisay, one of the bigger cities of the Cebu province.
A friend of then-Wildcats head coach Gilbert Demape, a former PBA player, saw an 18-year-old Dela Cerna, who was then in the third year of his High School studies, play and brought him to CIT-U.
He began practicing with the Wildcats every summer, and once he finished high school, he was absorbed by the university's college varsity team and been a mainstay in their starting lineup.
He had also played in the Partner's Cup, a CESAFI pre-season tournament with corporate sponsors, from 2012 to 2013 under Demape.
This BSBA Marketing Management student names Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant as his idol, saying he appreciates the Black Mamba's graceful moves.
“The way he plays, it is really beautiful especially his fadeaway shot,” said Dela Cerna who admitted that he tries to emulate the Laker guard's moves.
Among the local players, Dela Cerna looks up to Marc Pingris for his defense and the hardwork that the national player puts in.
As to what he has learned from playing basketball, Dela Cerna said the sport taught him to be patient, to be respectful and to be humble.
For his collegiate career, Dela Cerna said that he wants to help the CIT-U Wildcats clinch their first-ever CESAFI title. And, he has two more years to make it happen.
Asked what he thinks the Wildcats need to win a championship title, Dela Cerna quipped “patience, teamwork and hardwork. We should always be consistent in our scoring and everyone should contribute.”
The CIT-U Wildcats has already ended their eliminations campaign with a 5-7 win-loss record and will play the waiting game as they have a slim chance of making it to the final four, that is if the current fourth placers - University of Cebu Webmasters and University of San Jose Recoletos Jaguars - drop all their remaining games.
If not, they will aim for it next season with Dela Cerna saying that they would have a good chance as import players will no longer be allowed.
Should CIT-U Wildcats not make it further this season, they can consider it an achievement the upset win that they have inflicted on newly installed league leader University of the Visayas Green Lancers, a feat they had also accomplished last season.
After his stint in the CESAFI, Dela Cerna hopes to be given a chance to play in Manila. “Just want to try my luck out there.” – Rappler.com