(Part of a series)

UAAP basketball is more exciting and colorful because of the players who battle it out on the hardcourt for the glory of their respective teams. These guys stood up to the challenge of representing their schools, devoting long hours to training, pushing their bodies to the limit, pouring their hearts out. Fullcourtfresh honors them through this as-told-to special, relaying their tales of triumph and defeat, passion and determination, and dreams and resilience. Here are the young guns, the imports, the veterans, the new blood, the heartthrobs, and the standouts that made this season extraordinary for the country’s premier collegiate basketball league. Presenting: THE UAAP CLASS OF 2011. Compiled by Ericka Alcantara, Kat Angco, and Vyn Radovan

The Court Hearthrobs

Arnold van Opstal, Jens Knuttel, Cedric Labing-isa, Jeric Fortuna, Alex Nuyles, and Mike Silungan make girls swoon both for their basketball prowess and their good looks. Learn how these UAAP poster boys are handling all the attention.

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Arnold van Opstal

The attention I’ve been getting since I entered the UAAP is a big change coming from high school where people don’t really care about you, and then now, people actually recognizing you. It’s definitely fun though, all the photo shoots I’ve been in, the features, the interviews.

I think my most memorable one was the shoot for UAAP Magazine because I was with my buddy Norbert Torres. We were just having fun, walking around. I’m learning a lot from all these experiences.

I can proudly say I’ve matured. It’s such an honor to be considered one of the most good-looking players in the league. I love my fans, I love their support, so I feel really honored. Some of them made banners for me, and every time I would score, they’d throw it down. I really appreciate that.For me, having avid fans or supporters are normal—it comes with the territory so I never felt weird about it. I reply to them on Twitter; I really appreciate their support for me.

There are a lot of female fans—I’m currently single—personality and being confident without being cocky are what would catch my eye.

Thanks for all the support, I know we didn’t have the best season but your support is very much appreciated, especially the ones that stuck with us through thick and thin. In the coming years, they can expect me to always work hard on my game—I’ll train harder each year and try to improve myself as a player.

Jens Knuttel

It’s an honor being an athlete and a player for the UAAP, playing for FEU, na ako yung parang sinasabi nilang heartthrob. Siyempre nakakataba ng puso at nakakainspire maglaro. Of course gusto ko they value me because of how I play but it’s an extra bonus na they admire you because of how you look. With the talent that I have, plus points nalang yung looks.

At first when I was still kinda new in the UAAP meron nang may alam kung san ka pupunta yung bago mo gagawin alam na nila yung ginagawa mo. At first it was kinda weird and it took some getting used to pero in the end it’s okay kasi di naman negative tsaka yung mga iba naman positive. Maganda naman na may naghahabol sayo.

The best thing a fan did to me was when it was my birthday two years ago. They weren’t from FEU and may mga age na and they gave me a video from my family, my province friends, my barangay friends when I was young. Sobrang nakakatouch kasi knowing they’re not from FEU and everything. Parang, paano nila nakuha yun? 

When it comes to constant followers, I do entertain them. Part of being an athlete na nandun na talaga sila. When it gets bad, minsan di nalang pinapansin yung mga yan. My girlfriend is sort of used to it na rin. At first medyo nahihirapan pero when the time comes na matatapos na rin ako sa playing years siguro matatapos na rin yung pagstastalk sakin.

It’s such a pleasure playing for the UAAP, lalo na sa school na binibigay nila samin na benefits and everything. For me it’s kind of a dream come true because as an athlete everybody wants to play for the UAAP. It’s such a pleasure—sobrang masaya ako na nandito ako playing for FEU.

Cedric Labing-isa

Naflaflatter ako na ako yung sinasabi na heartthrob. Parang, di ko inexpect kasi maraming magagaling na naglalaro ako minsan lang mapasok. Siyempre masaya ako na may humahanga pala sa kin na di ko ineexpect kaya masaya ako. Nagpapasalamat ako na may fans. Siyempre nagiging mabait ako sa kanila. Di ko sila iniignore. Binabati ko sila pag nakakasalubong ko.

Most touching thing a fan did for me was when ginawan nila ako ng banner tapos nakalagay dun yung pangalan ko. Di alam ng girlfriend ko na may mga ganun pala. Di naman siya nagpupunta ng school since she’s from UST. Hindi siya nagagalit pag may  nagtatanong sa Facebook o may nag “nice game”. Tinatanong niya kung sino pero ok naman. Nagkakasundo naman. Pero wala naman mga “constant followers”.

Incoming third year na ko next year. Siguro yung dadagdagan ko yung defense ko tapos yung leadership ko. Yung pag organize ko ng mga teammates ko. Para sa NU community, salamat sa supporta and keep supporting the Bulldogs.

Jeric Fortuna

I’m flattered and grateful for all the support from the fans. It’s motivating and just seeing all the banners really inspires me to play. There was even this one time that my classmates all wore shirts that had one letter which spelled out my name.

Thankfully I don’t have to deal with any stalkers or consistent followers. I mean, there are some that go up to me to have their pictures taken and that’s fine with me. Di naman ako tumatanggi.

So far there hasn’t been anything too weird that a fan has done. Usually they just ask for pictures or an autograph.But there was this one time when I was walking in school then this girl just hugs me. I had no idea who she was! She then said sorry and just left.

I’ll continue to play hard, siyempre we want to win for the UST community para masaya sila. I just want to thank them for all their support. They’ve been there for us the whole season.

Alex Nuyles

I’m happy na maraming na kaming fans, considering Adamson started from zero, tapos ngayon nakapag-Final Four na kami, number two pa. Overwhelming kasi the first time I came sa Adamson and I played sa UAAP, walang support then suddenly in my third and fourth year, nagsidatingan na ang fans—win or lose may support. The students were telling me that we are like champions kasi we beat Ateneo. Tapos when we lost to FEU in the Final Four, the crowds were waiting for us and saying, ‘Okay lang yan.’ Nagpa-picture pa rin sila, parang ‘Okay lang yan, ganun lang talaga, next year nalang ulit.” that’s just the sweetest thing. Pero honestly, hindi ko inexpect that I’m considered a heartthrob.

Weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced, there’s this one girl na inaaway niya yung nililigawan ko sa Twitter. She tells her things like, ‘Wag ka na manood ng game,’ Gagawa ako ng paraan para hindi ka mapanood ng game.’ Gusto kong sabihin na ‘Can you please stop doing that?’ Pero more than anything, gusto ko talaga mag-sorry sa nililigawan ko.

But other than that, okay naman, I want to say thank you to everyone for all the support and the prayers that you gave us. When I got a spot in the Mythical Five, I had mixed emotions—sad and happy. It’s one of my dreams na masali sa Mythical Five, pero my primary dream is to play in the championship kasi talaga.

Next year, I have to work really really hard kasi four of our team’s main guys [Alvarez, Cañada, Lozada, and Colina] won’t be there na. I don’t think about the go-to guy stuff. I just play within our system.  Kasi sa team, hindi namin iniisip yung mga ganun. Sa system lang kami maglalaro talaga.

Mike Silungan

The college atmosphere is what I love the most about being in the UAAP. Playing college basketball in front of your peers, classmates, professors and alumni is something that you will never experience in your whole life except playing in the UAAP. My most memorable moment was during my first year in my first ever game.

We played the first game on opening day and walking out to the court from the dugout was a great feeling. Seeing thousands of fans fill Araneta is a memory I will never forget. ‘Win or lose, we are still very proud of you’ is the best thing a supporter has told me because it came from my mother. Those words really help relieve some pressure and put me at ease before games.

As an athlete, I don’t really have any constant followers but I sometimes have been asked for my autograph or picture at malls or public places. I just try to be polite and courteous. I sometimes get, ‘You should be an artista or a model’ and I find that funny because I don’t know how to do any of those things! Looks-wise, I guess I have to thank my parents for that one! But I am very thankful and appreciative to have fans that support me.

Playing basketball has been my passion since I could hold the ball. If people value me for my looks over my skills, then that is their perception of me. But I am willing to prove them wrong. I will work hard. Next season will be my last season to play for UP, so this off-season is really important for my team and I.