As Gwyne Capacio enters his final playing year for
Ateneo, he is looking forward to that one chance.
by rick olivares pic by philip sison
Basketball is a game of points. And moments.
In his third year at De La Salle Zobel, Gwyne Capacio
scored 32 points in the Final Four against Far Eastern University. His
performance towed the Junior Archers to the Juniors Finals against Ateneo where
they fell in three games. But no matter, Capacio had his Juniors title in 2007.
And it was quite a moment.
“I was only a sophomore at that time, but I can say
that I contributed to that championship,” said Gwyne.
Cut to 2015. With the school year ending, Capacio is
looking to finish his studies after one more semester and finally graduate from
Ateneo. After a sterling high school career at DLSZ, he moved eastward to
Loyola Heights where he became a Blue Eagle.
“I feel privileged,” proudly said Gwyne. “Being able
to say that I was a part of the four and five-peat teams of Ateneo that made
basketball history is a huge thing. Minsan lang mabuo yung ganyan na team and I
was a part of that line-up.”
The Blue Eagle squad that Gwyne joined was a
star-studded line-up with many of its players going to the professional ranks –
Greg Slaughter, Nico Salva, Justin Chua, Raymond Austria, Ryan Buenafe, Emman
Monfort, Juami Tiongson, and JP Erram.
Through it all, the quiet and reserved Capacio knew
that he had to wait in line. But the waiting was killing him. “Like any of us,
he wants to play,” related Von Pessumal who after guarding Gwyne in high school
in the Juniors Division became his college teammate and a good friend. “He
wants to be out there to contribute. He knows he can but he just needs the
minutes and the ball to get his confidence going.”
As my longest teammate since grade school,” related
Nico Elorde. “Nakita ko yung pag-improve niya lalo na nung second year namin. Biglang angat yung laro niya at siya rin yung key kaya nakuha namin yung championship.
Parang kapatid ko siya. Madalas sabay kami umuuwi since taga-Paranaque kami.
Sabi ko nga sa kanya nung summer last year stay positive lang siya kasi minsan
nafe-feel ko na down siya. Alam ko na kailangan niya ng minutes sa court para
mapakita niya yung kaya niyang gawin.”
“Before I graduated from high school,” recounted
Gwyne. “I already had surgery on my knee. That really had a huge effect on me
not only physically but also mentally. Ever since that injury puro kamalasan
ang nangyari sa akin. It just so happened I had to undergo another surgery
before the four-peat season. I didn’t have a chance to improve my game because
I was recovering from my injury. Naunahan ako ng mga kasama ko. Nawalan din ako
ng confidence sa sarili ko.”
The son of former FEU and PBA great, Glenn, Gwyne
admits to feeling pressure following his father’s footsteps. “Syempre meron
pressure,” acquiesced the younger Capacio. “Everyone wants me to be just like
him. I mean he was somebody in the PBA where the coach could rely on him.”
“Pero para sa akin, masarap din maging anak ng PBA
player,” countered Gwyne. “One of the main reasons is I get to learn first hand
from a PBA great.”
During the 2011 University Games in Roxas City, Gwyne
was quietly spectacular starring alongside Juami Tiongson and JP Erram in
leading Ateneo to the championship sans Slaughter, Monfort, Buenafe, Salva,
Kirk Long, and Kiefer Ravena.
After the five-peat team graduated to greener
pastures, Capacio looked to be counted on to contribute to Bo Perasol’s squad.
However, the nagging injuries slowed him down again curtailing his efficiency
not to mention his minutes.
Last season, Capacio struggles continued. “All I am
thinking about during games is that I should be ready whenever the coach puts
me in. No matter how many minutes he will play me, dapat ready ako. But then
again, there would be games where I think I can do more if given the chance.”
If one were to look at his Zobel team that won a
Juniors title, Joshua Webb got lots of minutes during his freshman year but
rode the bench of La Salle afterwards. Jed Manguera was in and out of the Green
Archers’ line-up where he was eventually cut from the team just as it won a
title in Season 76. Nico Elorde was famously cut before he found a home in Loyola
Heights. Jeric Fortuna found minutes in UST but twice lost in the UAAP Finals.
Migs De Asis and Martin Reyes went to UP where they were parts of teams that
went nowhere. Capacio and Elorde are the only ones with seniors championship
rings.
“Siguro may mga pinagpala talaga. And meron din
malas. Pero that doesn’t mean na you should give up di ba? These challenges are
all part of life. It’s up to us whether we keep on striving for the best or to
be satisfied with mediocrity. In my case, nasa akin kung gagawin kong
motivation yung pagkamalas or inspiration sa pagka-swerte ko.”
As the school year ends, Gwyne Capacio has the summer
to complete his requirements in order to graduate. He remains undecided whether
to call it quits on his college career and try his hand elsewhere such as the
D-League. “I still have a chance to play,” he says wistfully.
“When I was a Junior Archer, we won the 2007
championship. As a Blue Eagle, we won the four and five-peats. Iba kasi talaga
pag nag-champion ka. It is like as Coach Norman (Black) said, ‘pag champion,
lahat bida.’”
“The championships are a blessing but as a Blue
Eagle…” paused Capacio. “Wala pa yung hinahanap ko na moment. I am still
waiting for that moment to come.”
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