"Home is where the heart is." As cliche as it may sound, that phrase rings true for Mon Mabayo as he is set to play for his hometown team Caloocan Supremos in the upcoming season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The 34-year old bruiser will finally get to live his dream of playing for his hometown since he learned to play basketball at the age of seven (7) with his friends at the court fronting their house. It will also be an opportunity for him to show what he can do in front of his beloved mother who happens to be a Barangay Captain at their place.
Aside from his family, Mon Mabayo will also get his chance to strut his stuff before his fellow Calooceños after playing for the Valenzuela Classics and Quezon City Capitals in the past three (3) seasons. In those conferences, Mon Mabayo was the energy guy who was all too willing to do the dirty works just to get the win for his squad. As a matter of fact, Mon Mabayo became the fifth (5th) best rebounder in the league with 8.6 boards a game in the Lakan Season.
Mon Mabayo will bring his trademark intensity to Caloocan in the next iteration of the MPBL, the fastest growing basketball league in the country. His endless intensity, and hustle will definitely be needed by the Caloocan Supremos who barely missed the playoffs this Lakan Season after placing ninth (9th) in the North Division with a record of 16 wins and 14 losses. He vows to inject to the Supremos the same, if not higher, level of energy that he has shown in his previous teams.
His basketball journey may appear as a fairy tale but it was not smooth sailing at all. While he was already a varsity player back in high school, Mon Mabayo didn't tryout for his college basketball team since his eldest sister who was financing his studies wanted him to focus solely on academics so he can finish more units per sem and graduate from college on time.
An unexpected blessing, however, arrived for Mon Mabayo in his third (3rd) year in college after his high school swertheart of five (5) years gave birth. Accordingly, Mon Mabayo had to defer his schooling to take care of his girlfriend and their baby. With such great responsibility ahead of him, he turned to basketball to support his studies and family.
Mon Mabayo bounced from one school to another in search of a basketball program that can provide him exposure and sustain his needs. First, he returned to the De La Salle Araneta University where he played for one season in the Colleges and Universities Sports Association (CUSA). He was later pirated by the Central Colleges of the Philippines but things didn't turned out well, so he transferred to the Rizal Technological University (RTU) which is playing in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA).
After playing in an off-season tournament for RTU, the STI Olympians saw potential in him and lured him to their school. Hence, Mon Mabayo moved again to play for the STI Olympians in the National Athletic Association of Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) from 2005 to 2008.
Moving to STI proved to be a wise decision for Mon Mabayo as he was given enough playing time to develop and shine. The school likewise provided him decent allowance to defray his personal expenses but Mon Mabayo has to tighten his belt several times.
And just like hundreds of other kids who are aspiring to play in the pros, Mon Mabayo had to endure long commutes just to attend training.
Mon Mabayo simply didn't budge amidst all of the challenges he faced. Rather, it even pushed him to go hard in each and every practice with the goal of improving his game so he can provide a better life for his family.
All of Mon Mabayo's sacrifices eventually bore fruit. In game two (2) of a best-of-three finals, he scored 11 points to help the Vic Ycasiano-mentored STI Olympians bag its first ever NAASCU title at the expense of five-time Champions University of Manila (UM), 81-75, on September 13, 2007.
As the reigning NAASCU champions, the Olympians were later invited to participate in the 2007 National Collegiate Champions League where 16 of the top teams across all collegiate leagues around the country were invited to compete. Coming from a little-known league, STI was supposed to exit early but it surprised basketball pundits as it placed third place after it stunned several top UAAP teams.
In the first round, STI got lucky as it won by default against the University of the East (UE) Warriors who withdrew from the competition. In the quarterfinals, Mon Mabayo dropped 12 points to lead STI in a shocking win against Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws which was bannered at that time by Mac Baracael, Reil Cervantes, Aldrech Ramos and Marc Barocca. Unfortunately, the Olympians lost their semifinals battle against the University of the Visayas Lancers led by Greg Slaughter. But in the battle for third (3rd) place, Mon Mabayo contributed 10 points in STI's monumental upset against the 2006 UAAP champions University of Santo Tomas bannered by Jervy Cruz and Dylan Ababou.
Mon Mabayo's impressive performance during the tournament earned him a slot in the Mythical 10 which included Collegiate Stars Chris Tiu and Jervy Cruz. In addition, he was later recruited by Coach Koy Banal to play for San Mig Coffee team in the 2008 season of the Philippine Basketball League. He only played for a year though and then he subsequently played in various ligang labas until he joined the PBA D-League in 2011 with the Cafe France franchise.
After a year of playing with Cafe France, Mon Mabayo applied for the PBA draft in 2012. He was selected as 9th pick in the fourth round by B-Meg Llamados which was coached at that time by Tim Cone but he was never given a contract. With no other choice, he returned to the PBA D-league for two more seasons then he ventured again in different ligang labas and commercial league.
Unknown to many, Mon Mabayo also served as Sports Coach for REACH International School located in Paseo, Dr. Magallanes from 2015 to 2018. He eventually left the school when he joined the MPBL in 2018 since his schedule became too hectic.
It has truly been a long and winding basketball journey for Mon Mabayo. At his age, he may only have three (3) or five (5) more years left on his gas tank but at least he gets to play it for his hometown.
A true veteran of the game, Mon Mabayo's basketball story may not be the best there is but that doesn't matter now. What matters is that he's happy.
More importantly, He's Home!
The 34-year old bruiser will finally get to live his dream of playing for his hometown since he learned to play basketball at the age of seven (7) with his friends at the court fronting their house. It will also be an opportunity for him to show what he can do in front of his beloved mother who happens to be a Barangay Captain at their place.
"It's my dream to play sa hometown ko. I guess lahat naman siguro, kung bigyan ng chance, gusto maglaro sa hometown nila. Like the saying "there's no place like home". Sabi ko nga, I was borned and raised sa Caloocan, kilala ako lahat ng mga tao dito and syempre gusto ko sa hometown ko naman ipapakita yung paglalaro ko. And for sure, matutuwa Mama ko neto kasi kapitan siya actually ng barangay namin so mas masisi pormahan niya ako this time, Mon Mabayo shared to Ligang Pinoy in a chat interview."
Aside from his family, Mon Mabayo will also get his chance to strut his stuff before his fellow Calooceños after playing for the Valenzuela Classics and Quezon City Capitals in the past three (3) seasons. In those conferences, Mon Mabayo was the energy guy who was all too willing to do the dirty works just to get the win for his squad. As a matter of fact, Mon Mabayo became the fifth (5th) best rebounder in the league with 8.6 boards a game in the Lakan Season.
"For two (2) years of playing sa Capitals, para sa akin yung role ko is energy guy. Since nalipat that time si [Gian] Abrigo, nabawasan yung intensity ng team, so yun yung naging role ko sa kanila. Rebounding, defensive side, energy, intensity, yung mga bagay na wala sa stat sheet like drawing charges and tapping the ball to an open teammates, diving for loose balls, dirty jobs kung tawagin, added Mon Mabayo."
Mon Mabayo will bring his trademark intensity to Caloocan in the next iteration of the MPBL, the fastest growing basketball league in the country. His endless intensity, and hustle will definitely be needed by the Caloocan Supremos who barely missed the playoffs this Lakan Season after placing ninth (9th) in the North Division with a record of 16 wins and 14 losses. He vows to inject to the Supremos the same, if not higher, level of energy that he has shown in his previous teams.
"Same thing, yung energy and intensity not just sa game, pati sa practice. This time tingin ko mas doble yung effort ko since day 1 may gusto akong i-prove sa Caloocan na kaya kong maglaro. Yung mga pinakita kong laro sa Valenzuela at QC, I think that's enough para mabigyan nila ako ng chance uli na sa kanila naman ako makipag-patayan sa bola at sa laro, said Mon Mabayo."
His basketball journey may appear as a fairy tale but it was not smooth sailing at all. While he was already a varsity player back in high school, Mon Mabayo didn't tryout for his college basketball team since his eldest sister who was financing his studies wanted him to focus solely on academics so he can finish more units per sem and graduate from college on time.
An unexpected blessing, however, arrived for Mon Mabayo in his third (3rd) year in college after his high school swertheart of five (5) years gave birth. Accordingly, Mon Mabayo had to defer his schooling to take care of his girlfriend and their baby. With such great responsibility ahead of him, he turned to basketball to support his studies and family.
Mon Mabayo bounced from one school to another in search of a basketball program that can provide him exposure and sustain his needs. First, he returned to the De La Salle Araneta University where he played for one season in the Colleges and Universities Sports Association (CUSA). He was later pirated by the Central Colleges of the Philippines but things didn't turned out well, so he transferred to the Rizal Technological University (RTU) which is playing in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA).
After playing in an off-season tournament for RTU, the STI Olympians saw potential in him and lured him to their school. Hence, Mon Mabayo moved again to play for the STI Olympians in the National Athletic Association of Colleges and Universities (NAASCU) from 2005 to 2008.
Moving to STI proved to be a wise decision for Mon Mabayo as he was given enough playing time to develop and shine. The school likewise provided him decent allowance to defray his personal expenses but Mon Mabayo has to tighten his belt several times.
"Medyo ok naman naging allowance at playing time ko sa STI noong nag start ako 2005 until 2008. Pero maraming time pa rin talaga na kulang para suportahan ang family ko, explained Mon Mabayo."
And just like hundreds of other kids who are aspiring to play in the pros, Mon Mabayo had to endure long commutes just to attend training.
"Ganito ang araw-araw na buhay ko sa STI. Allowance ko sa STI before 120 a day. Kukuha lang ako ng 30 pesos para makapunta ng practice from Caloocan to Makati. That time, 15 pesos lang pamasahe sa LRT. 9am ang practice namin kaya 6am aalis na ako sa amin. Kailangan ko maglakad ng 30-40 minutes mula bahay namin hanggang LRT monumento then sakay na ako ng LRT , baba na ako ng Gil Puyat, then lakad 30-40 minutes papunta ng washington gym sa Makati. So ganun uli pauwi, yung natirang 15 pesos pasahe lang sa LRT, baba ng monumento, then lakad na pauwi, recalled Mon Mabayo."
Mon Mabayo simply didn't budge amidst all of the challenges he faced. Rather, it even pushed him to go hard in each and every practice with the goal of improving his game so he can provide a better life for his family.
"Kaya kapag lagi sila nagtatanong dati yung mga teammates ko bakit go hard ka lagi mag-practice? yung mag-ina ko ang inspirasyon ko. Grabe yung araw-araw na biyahe ko makapunta lang sa practice, kaya wala akong dahilan para pumetiks lang. Kailangan ko maka-angat sa paglalaro ng basketball hindi lang para sa akin, pati sa family ko, Mon Mabayo told Ligang Pinoy."
All of Mon Mabayo's sacrifices eventually bore fruit. In game two (2) of a best-of-three finals, he scored 11 points to help the Vic Ycasiano-mentored STI Olympians bag its first ever NAASCU title at the expense of five-time Champions University of Manila (UM), 81-75, on September 13, 2007.
As the reigning NAASCU champions, the Olympians were later invited to participate in the 2007 National Collegiate Champions League where 16 of the top teams across all collegiate leagues around the country were invited to compete. Coming from a little-known league, STI was supposed to exit early but it surprised basketball pundits as it placed third place after it stunned several top UAAP teams.
In the first round, STI got lucky as it won by default against the University of the East (UE) Warriors who withdrew from the competition. In the quarterfinals, Mon Mabayo dropped 12 points to lead STI in a shocking win against Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws which was bannered at that time by Mac Baracael, Reil Cervantes, Aldrech Ramos and Marc Barocca. Unfortunately, the Olympians lost their semifinals battle against the University of the Visayas Lancers led by Greg Slaughter. But in the battle for third (3rd) place, Mon Mabayo contributed 10 points in STI's monumental upset against the 2006 UAAP champions University of Santo Tomas bannered by Jervy Cruz and Dylan Ababou.
Mon Mabayo's impressive performance during the tournament earned him a slot in the Mythical 10 which included Collegiate Stars Chris Tiu and Jervy Cruz. In addition, he was later recruited by Coach Koy Banal to play for San Mig Coffee team in the 2008 season of the Philippine Basketball League. He only played for a year though and then he subsequently played in various ligang labas until he joined the PBA D-League in 2011 with the Cafe France franchise.
After a year of playing with Cafe France, Mon Mabayo applied for the PBA draft in 2012. He was selected as 9th pick in the fourth round by B-Meg Llamados which was coached at that time by Tim Cone but he was never given a contract. With no other choice, he returned to the PBA D-league for two more seasons then he ventured again in different ligang labas and commercial league.
Unknown to many, Mon Mabayo also served as Sports Coach for REACH International School located in Paseo, Dr. Magallanes from 2015 to 2018. He eventually left the school when he joined the MPBL in 2018 since his schedule became too hectic.
It has truly been a long and winding basketball journey for Mon Mabayo. At his age, he may only have three (3) or five (5) more years left on his gas tank but at least he gets to play it for his hometown.
A true veteran of the game, Mon Mabayo's basketball story may not be the best there is but that doesn't matter now. What matters is that he's happy.
More importantly, He's Home!
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