From fastballs to
fastbreaks: Rome De La Rosa’s field of dreams is the PBA hardcourt
by rick olivares
Sometimes, a person choses another path wholly
different from his parents only to find himself veering off course to align
with what seems like fate.
Rome de la Rosa grew up in San Diego, California
where he rooted for the hometown Padres. He played the hot spot of third base
and at times catcher. And like every young kid who took up the sport, he had
dreams of greatness on the baseball diamond.
“Baseball was my first sport,” recalled Rome. “I also
played some flag football but baseball was my favorite. I loved it as only a
kid can. I played it from sun up to sundown. But eventually it took a toll on
me especially when I played catcher. It hurt my knees and the 90-mile-an-hour
pitches and plate collisions left bruises and welts all over me.”
But life threw him a curveball.
He knew that his father Romy was a basketball star in
Manila who famously played for the Shell Turbochargers alongside Benjie Paras,
Ronnie Magsanoc, and Arnie Tuadles. The elder De La Rosa later suited up for
Sta. Lucia and Negros in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.
Eventually, Rome traded the fastball for the
fastbreak as he took up the sport of his father and uncle (Reuben de la Rosa).
Like them, he was a fearless slasher (no pun intended if you get this) who
later developed a reliable perimeter shot. He also became a top-notch defender;
a left over from his baseball days.
“Having played third base and catcher, you look at
all the angles of where the batter might want to hit a ball. You work on your
anticipation and try to make good reads,” explained De La Rosa. “So in
basketball, that helped me with my anticipation for steals and even blocked
shots.”
And so the six-foot-four stalwart showcased his wares
with the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA and the NLEX Road Warriors in the
D-League, where he was a part of many a championship squad.
Now after five years in the amateurs, Rome is ready
to follow in his father’s and uncle’s footsteps – the Philippine Basketball
Association.
With the Gatorade PBA Draft 12 days away, Rome has
been joining the workout sessions by Barako Bull and Rain or Shine while
working out at the Athlete’s Lab.
“I’m nervous,” he admitted. “I talked to my dad about
it and he told me to relax and simply concentrate on doing my best. Even if
there are two more teams, you can never be sure. Until your name is called out
that nervousness will be there. But even that is just the start. If I am
drafted, I have to prove to my new team that I deserve to be signed up by them.
That’s the challenge though.”
“And of course, it would be real cool to have a
second generation De La Rosa in the PBA.”
And that curveball life threw at him?
Rome De La Rosa laughed.
“One thing that I am working on is my jumpshot. I’m
just striving for more consistency.”
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