By KATRINA ANGCO
He may be the third best scorer after Round One of UAAP Season 73, but UP Fighting Maroon Mike Silungan only finds his average of 13.3 points per game, okay— and it is not because he is looking to rake in more points. In fact, the Chicago-bred rookie says making it big in the scoring department is just not his main concern.
“It’s great to be in that category [leading scorers] with a bunch of great guys from other teams, but it’s not enough because we just keep on losing,” Mike remarks.“In this team, I’m not always looking to score, because I know we can win without me scoring,” he added.
The Maroons are on a seven-game losing streak as of writing, a situation they did not envision, and certainly not the way any rookie like Mike, wants his UAAP career to tip off.
Entry to the Oblation lair
Mike, who was named after “His Airness” Michael Jeffrey Jordan, tried out for the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the San Beda Red Lions when he first came to the Philippines, two years ago.
“But their roster then was full, good thing [Maroons head coach] Coach Aboy [Castro] saw me and asked me to come over to UP,” Mike recalls.
Because of the UAAP’s two-year residency rule for transferees, Mike had to wait for 2010 to make his debut in the country’s premier collegiate league.
“The two years really helped me develop and learn about their game here in the Philippines, just to get adjusted to how the referees call, how the players play,” notes Mike.
He admits there were times when he would see the Maroons [Team A] and wished he could help them out. “But even though it’s a long way, it’s bearable and it actually went by really fast,” he adds.
Mike’s perspective
The Harper College standout’s foray into the UAAP was eagerly awaited by many UP supporters, and much talk went around regarding what he can bring to the Diliman squad. Many people were looking to him to lift up the perennial cellar-dwelling team, but after seven outings in the first round, Mike’s scoring prowess seems to not be enough to bring back the basketball glory to the Oblation community.
“People always talk about the coaches that are gone, that it’s the coaches fault, it’s not all that, but I think it’s more of the players,” the 6’3 guard/ forward admits.
“The x’s and o’s we know that, we know how to play defense, we know how to run our offense, I think what’s lacking is our pride and our hearts,” he added.
Mike cited their game against the NU Bulldogs last August 7, where they led by 20 points at halftime only to end up losing by four points. “It wasn’t because we can’t play good, it’s because we can’t finish with our pride and our hearts,” he said.
“In the second round we just gotta come out with it no matter what, we believe we’ll still be able to pull it out, we’re gonna come out strong this time,” he guarantees.
The Fighting Maroons were expected to improve on the team standings this season with Mike and a few other talented rookies beefing up their roster, as well as the team’s good showing in the pre-season league and their experience training in Las Vegas.
But needless to say, they failed to live up to all the hype.
“I think it’s because we were supposed to be a really good team, maybe all the pressure came to us, maybe we thought it’s gonna be easy, but it’s not” confessed Mike. “Because every team in this league is good, and in our remaining games, we just have to come out with more pride and more heart for our school,” he adds.
Even if things are not currently good for them, Mike has no regrets about playing for the Maroons. “I’m supposed to be a highly regarded player for this team, but the thing is, we have so many good players,” he said, noting that he knows the Maroons can win a lot of games even without him around.
“I’m not wasting my talent here, I learned a lot from these guys in those two years, I’m talented because of them, we just have to play together and have our talents come together,” he declares.
“My past, my present, my future”
Like most ballers, Mike’s ultimate dream is to play professional basketball. “I’m very close to that dream, I just gotta keep my head straight, keep my head on, I think I’ll be able to make it soon,” he relates. “Basketball has been my whole life, my future, my present, my past,” Mike adds.
The 22-year-old’s passion for basketball can be seen not just on the hardcourt, but is also showcased on his body. He has a tattoo of Michael Jordan’s famous quote, “For the love of the game,” on his upper left arm.
“It has been my idea since I was 17 or 18, I really wanted that quote as my tattoo, and I wanted a picture to show it,” he explains. “I came out with the image of two hands forming a heart with a basketball at the center,” he adds.
Mike says his dad was surprised and shocked upon seeing the tattoo. “He liked my idea, but he said no more after that,” he tells with a laugh. “He always wants me to protect my body because it’s the only one I have,” he adds more seriously.
Mike’s family
The middle child’s personal hero is his mom, who was diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago.
“It’s great to see her traveling all the way here to watch my games, she’s responding to the treatment very well,” Mike says. “All she wants to do is see me play basketball, that’s what I’m doing out here for her,” he adds.
Mike is very close to his parents and older brother, even if they are living in the States while he and his younger sister stay here.
“Even if they don’t stay here, they call me and my sister every day,” he shares. “Also, the people who take care of us here are part of my dad’s family, so they know what I’m doing, if I go out or if I have people over,” he adds.
Mike says that his older brother has been a really great mentor for him in terms of telling him what to improve on.
“But even if he comments on what I could’ve done better, he’s been very supportive, I’m learning a lot from him,” he says.
His parents, on the other hand, are very proud of what he’s doing, but he tells they always remind him to not let the popularity get into his head.
Behind the baller persona
The Michael Jordan follower may easily fit into the basketball player stereotype, with his height and looks, plus his Adidas and Gatorade billboards around the metro, but Mike does not want people to remember him just because of basketball.
“It’s starting off that way, but once you get to know me, you’ll see that I’m a different guy,” he says. “I’m easygoing, easy to talk to, and I also rarely get mad, I love to have fun, to laugh,” he relates.
Mike also compensates for the baller façade by working hard in school. “It’s really up to you to really try hard in class, because the professors think you’re just gonna slack off because you have practice,” he notes.
“But I’m a student first, and an athlete second, so I just really try hard to concentrate on my grades,” he added. The Sports Science major is enjoying his stay in UP, but would love to branch out and explore the whole campus. “I’ve only been in certain parts the school, like the gym and AS, and I just really wanna see the different kinds of people that are here,” he reveals.
The hardcourt heartthrob has only had one serious girlfriend so far, back when he was about 18 or 19 years old. “I’m just very picky when it comes to having a really, really great girlfriend,” he admitted. “I want someone who can make me laugh, someone who carries herself very well, a girl I can bring home to my parents, the looks has to be there also. Someone simple but can make me laugh,” he shares.
Mike has definitely come a long way from his first game this season which he considers as the best moment of his UAAP career to date.
“Just walking out of the dugout in my first game against La Salle and looking up, seeing so many fans, so many people, that’s what I’ve been waiting for,” he recalls. “I haven’t played in front of that many people since forever, so it’s just the best feeling,” Mike adds.
If the long lines of people waiting to have their pictures taken with him after every game are any indication, then he is definitely one of the hottest additions to the UAAP hardcourt. But the Fighting Maroon continues to keep his head in the game and is not letting the fame steer him away from the things that truly matter.
“I never really thought I’d get to that status [people wanting his autograph or a picture with him], I just love to play basketball,” he humbly tells. “It’s a great feeling, but you know, no matter what, I’d rather win a game than have the popularity,” he adds with a smile.
