Before the UAAP courtside reporter roster had an all-female line-up, Adamson University’s representative has been mostly male. This “lineage” includes Beau Canlas and Aaron Atayde, with Vieo Lopez being the last guy before Apple David broke the combo in Season 75.
For Season’s 72-73, AdU’s face on the courtside was Job de Leon.
We caught up with the Ateneo de Manila graduate, now with GMA News Online, about making the cut, being the only guy in the group, and how the UAAP stint changed his life.
Job de Leon (left) together with most of the UAAP Season 72 courtside reporters. File photo by Ronin Bautista
The path towards UAAP
I had zero plans of becoming a courtside reporter. I didn’t even know the position existed because prior to becoming one, the only basketball league I followed was the NBA. My dad chanced upon an ad and told me to send in an application, and I thought I might as well give it a shot.
The screening process in my time was involved answering stuff like why I wanted the job. I was studying Communication in Ateneo at the time and I said it’d be good working experience for me. They asked me what I knew about sportscasting in the Philippines in general, and to say a few lines for the camera. They also asked me if I was okay with even reporting for NCAA schools like JRU. I had no idea where JRU was but I still said I was game.
There was a workshop too, and at the end we had to tape a report based on what we learned from that workshop. I was one of the last ones to get my report together, but when I gave it I felt I had the position in the bag.
How challenging was it to represent a team that’s not from your school?
I didn’t mind at first, until I realized how intense people could be about school spirit. It gets a bit awkward for me since Adamson always lost to Ateneo, but I’ve always said I support both teams, and I still do until today.
About being the only guy in an almost-all-female roster of courtside reporters.
Firstly, I apologize to all the UAAP viewers who were sorely disappointed to find out I wasn’t a cute girl. I got teased about it a bit. It didn’t help that I had long hair for a boy, which at one point was probably longer than Riki Flores’ hair. Maybe it was a disadvantage to the extent that players might’ve opened up differently to a girl, but at least I didn’t get hit on by anybody.
I got really nervous though in 2010 when I heard Nikko Ramos auditioned for the job, thinking only one male courtside reporter was allowed, max. Turns out there wasn’t such a ceiling, and there was enough room to share. Again to those who wanted cute girls instead, we apologize.
Likes and dislikes
Free Nike gear and free passes to the games! I don’t think there was anything about the job not to like. I learned so much from the ABSCBN and Adamson folks, the job really is as good as advertised.
Most unforgettable experience
A bonus reason why I was always excited for Ateneo-Adamson games was the fact that people I knew were more likely to see me on TV. There was this one game when the Falcons were ahead at halftime, which meant I got to do the halftime report. I was so excited that I forgot what to say. It went something like, “You’re watching this UAAP game between… *eternity of silence* oh, the Adamson Soaring Falcons and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles! The Falcons lead at halftime… *dear Lord what’s the score?! More silence* 33-30!” then wrapped up and got out of there. Most embarrassing thing ever.
Job de Leon is still within courtside’s reach, as he covers collegiate and professional basketball for GMA News Online. Here, he poses for a souvenir photo at the NBA Global Games held in the Philippines. Photo by Ronin Bautista
What do you miss most about courtside reporting?
I still get to watch games whenever I can or want to but I miss experiencing a game so close to a team. It’s one thing to watch games from the stands, it’s quite another to see the emotions that flow before, during and after games, even just for two seasons.
On being a courtside reporter
I’d say it was quite a milestone in my life, and it let me be part of a world that my younger self would’ve only dreamed about. My shy self learned a thing or two about talking to other people, and I’m sure it has carried over to my work. It gave me a new appreciation of what goes into a massive production like that, from the crewmen to the game panelists who work hard to bring a show like that straight to your homes. I’ve met a lot of great people, through working directly with them or because they’re familiar with my stint, who’ve become great mentors and friends. It also gave me a better understanding of basketball.
Post-UAAP stint
(After UAAP), it was a jumping point for other things. I got to spend more time on writing here and there, dabbled in radio for a while, and refocused my time with the Ateneo Debate Society in my senior year (fun fact: Pia Arcangel was alsoADS president in her time). It only lasted a while, though. Right out of college I got sucked into basketball again, this time for GMA News Online, and I’ve been writing for them ever since.
I also contribute to other publications on the side like SLAM Magazine PH, Manifesto.ph and Rogue. I also work for The Manila Review as an assistant editor.
Future plans
I’d tell you if I knew! For now, I’m enjoying being able to stay close to basketball and loving what I do.
(‘Tales from the courtside’ catches up with former courtside reporters who have charmed sports fans and televiewers alike during their term as representatives of the association’s member universities. Previously featured were Trish Roque, Tracy Abad, Sharon Yu and Pia Arcangel)
