by rick olivares pic by nuki sabio
One hour before tip-off against the Alaska Aces, the
Meralco Bolts’ forward Rey Guevarra was out on the court of the Smart Araneta
Coliseum shooting baskets with some of his teammates.
Even when the other Bolts began to head back to the
dugout, Guevarra stayed and continued to shoot some more.
The Bolts practically led the whole game and beat
back several rallies by the Aces en route to a 85-76 win. Guevarra played a
total of four minutes, all in the second quarter, scored two points on two
attempts. His only other statistical number was a foul against an Alaska
player.
In contrast, his former Letran teammate, RJ Jazul,
logged 20 minutes but suffered a bad-shooting night (0-6 from the field) like
many of his Alaska teammates. Jazul finished with four points all coming from
the foul line.
After the match, Guevarra dutifully changed into
civilian clothes and left the arena. Outside, injured teammate Mike Cortez,
tipped his Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap to him and said, “Rey G!”
Guevarra smiled.
But then again, he always does. No matter what the
circumstance, trying or even difficult, he makes it a point to maintain a
positive attitude.
He moved up from the Letran Squires to the Knights
and missed out on a championship that Jazul was able to get in the NCAA.
Guevarra led the Knights to one more trip back to the finals but they lost to
the San Beda Red Lions.
Along with Jazul, he was picked to play with the
national team, Smart Gilas, and those days remain one of his fondest memories.
“Syempre dream ng lahat ng atleta maglaro para sa national team,” he remarked.
“Na-train kami ng one of the best coaches in the world. Nakalaro kami kung saan
saan at naglaro ng exciting basketbol na nakapagdala ng karangalan para sa
bansa natin.”
After he suffered a knee injury that prematurely ended
his career with Letran, he watched as Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz on Smart
Gilas filled his slot. He knew that it was time to move on and go to the PBA.
Guevarra was drafted third overall in 2010 by Air21
joining the number one and two picks in Nonoy Baclao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the
latter also a teammate on Smart Gilas.
“Excited ako nung na draft ako,” recalled Guevarra.
“Heto na yung pangarap ko nung bata ako. Naging totoo na.”
But just like that, barely a season in the pros, all
three players were traded to San Miguel Beer.
“Syempre, nakakagulat yung pangyayari pero bakit hindi?
Sino ba may ayaw na makalaro sa isang team di ba San Miguel o Ginebra ang
kalibre,” reflected the 6’3” swingman. “Mga top clubs yan. Mga pinaka-sikat sa
bayan.”
Again it didn’t last. Rey G moved again. And again.
And again. In four years in the PBA, he’s played for five teams – Air21, San
Miguel, Powerade, GlobalPort, and now Meralco.
Despite the moving around and the journeyman status,
Guevarra has remained unshakeable in his positive demeanor. He wants to shed
his image as a spectacular dunker (there are those famous dunks against San
Beda’ Sam Ekwe and former Alaska import Jason Forte to name a few) and be known
as well-rounded player who can be counted upon. Yet even if he’s known for his
high-flying dunks, he’ll take it. “Okay din na meron highlights,” he said without
any trace of boastfulness. “Maraming mga hindi pa rin nabigyan ng mga
opportunity na meron ako. So lagi akong thankful na nandito pa rin ako na
nakakapaglaro ng basketbol sa PBA.”
Guevarra is immensely proud of his former Letran and
even national teammates. He takes note of Barroca who endured a nightmare
ending to his college career but who also remained positive and has bounced
back to become one of the better guards in the PBA. “Ngayon, Finals MVP si
Baroks,” said his beaming former Smart Gilas teammate.
Despite the lack of playing time, Guevarra has many
reasons to feel like a MVP. His long-time girlfriend, Nisa De Cataluna, is
seven months on the way. The couple is just waiting for the girl’s parents to
arrive before they tie the knot. “Marami naman joys ang buhay. Kailangan lang makita
mo lang. At gawin inspiration sa paglalaro.”
During the shoot-around, his college coach, Louie
Alas sat by courtside and watch him rain jump shot after shot. “Hindi ako
worried sa kanya,” noted Alas, now an assistant coach with Alaska, of his
former player. “Maganda attitude ni Rey. Mabait pa na tao. He will always be
welcome by teams. At lalo na may-laro yan. Hindi lang nabibigyan ng chance.”
As Rey Guevarra filed out into the night, he shook
hands with a few of the players from Alaska. He was smiling and telling them to
go get a win in their next game.
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