Jay-ar Taganas almost gave up playing basketball after he was not selected in the 2010 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft. But as fate would have it, he is enjoying right now a revival of his basketball career playing for the Bulacan Kuyas of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Nicknamed "Baby Shaq" by his high school coach, Taganas showed glimpse of his basketball potential as early as his Junior years. Playing for the San Beda Red Cubs, he won the NCAA Juniors MVP in 2003 while leading his team to the championship in the same year.
He found even more success in the collegiate ranks playing for the Men's Basketball Team of San Beda College Red Lions. Together with Sam Ekwe, a hulking 6'8 center from Nigeria, the Red Lions ended a 28-year Basketball title drought for Mendiola in 2006 after edging the powerhouse PCU dolphins led by Jayson Castro, Gabby Espinas and Beau Belga, 2-1, in a nail-biting championship series. In the dying seconds of the game, Beau Belga missed what could have been a game winner as the final buzzer sounded.
Taganas won two (2) more championships with San Beda in 2007 and 2008 to complete a three-peat. Unfortunately for Taganas, his success in the Juniors and Collegiate ranks did not translate into the professional league. Unlike Belga, Castro and Espinas who carved a successful career in the PBA, Taganas was virtually left in the cold.
Perhaps the scouts regarded him as lacking in size for the center or power forward position. But whatever maybe the reason, his non-selection forced him to look for a day job and he somehow lost interest in pursuing a professional basketball career.
In an interview with Beau Belga for the basketball show known as The Score, Taganas confessed that his rejection in the PBA draft was the lowest point of his basketball career. He felt giving up basketball altogether.
Luckily, Taganas was employed by Maynilad water where he worked for five (5) years and played for the company's basketball team. When he learned that one of his corporate team's assistant coaches was forming a basketball team for the PBA D-League, he took his chances. He resigned from his work to pursue his dream of playing in the PBA.
Taganas was one step away from playing in the PBA when the Mahindra Enforcers, then under coach Chito Victolero, signed him as one of the team's practice players. It was there where he had the chance to learn from PBA veterans including Mark Yee who is also making a name in the MPBL for the Davao Occidental Tigers. It was Mark Yee who baptized him as "extra suman", a monicker derived from Beau Belga's "extra rice".
Lady luck was not on Taganas' side as the PBA shut the door on him again. For the second time, he failed to land a contract with the Mahindra Enforcers or with any other PBA team. Without any takers for his talent, he eventually found his way to the newly-formed MPBL in 2018 .
He signed with the Bulacan Kuyas, a team owned by Bulacan Congressman Jose Antonio "Kuya" Alvarado. Incidentally, he became a teammate of Marlou Aquino who came out of retirement to play in the fledgling MPBL.
Joining the MPBL proved to be the right decision for Taganas. As the league saw unprecedented success in viewership, Taganas likewise gained popularity as a rebounding machine for the Bulacan Kuyas.
As the starting center for the Kuyas, Taganas contributed an average of 5.7 points, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 10.3 rebounds each game during the Lakan Season. His friendly demeanor inspite of his size has endeared him to many of the fans. Although his team has to win a championship yet, his experience so far in the MPBL is nothing short of satisfactory.
You can watch Beau Belga's interview with Shaq Taganas here.
Nicknamed "Baby Shaq" by his high school coach, Taganas showed glimpse of his basketball potential as early as his Junior years. Playing for the San Beda Red Cubs, he won the NCAA Juniors MVP in 2003 while leading his team to the championship in the same year.
He found even more success in the collegiate ranks playing for the Men's Basketball Team of San Beda College Red Lions. Together with Sam Ekwe, a hulking 6'8 center from Nigeria, the Red Lions ended a 28-year Basketball title drought for Mendiola in 2006 after edging the powerhouse PCU dolphins led by Jayson Castro, Gabby Espinas and Beau Belga, 2-1, in a nail-biting championship series. In the dying seconds of the game, Beau Belga missed what could have been a game winner as the final buzzer sounded.
Taganas won two (2) more championships with San Beda in 2007 and 2008 to complete a three-peat. Unfortunately for Taganas, his success in the Juniors and Collegiate ranks did not translate into the professional league. Unlike Belga, Castro and Espinas who carved a successful career in the PBA, Taganas was virtually left in the cold.
Perhaps the scouts regarded him as lacking in size for the center or power forward position. But whatever maybe the reason, his non-selection forced him to look for a day job and he somehow lost interest in pursuing a professional basketball career.
In an interview with Beau Belga for the basketball show known as The Score, Taganas confessed that his rejection in the PBA draft was the lowest point of his basketball career. He felt giving up basketball altogether.
"Nagsimula nung hindi ako na draft sa PBA. So siguro, parang hindi na para sa akin ito....sabi nga siguro ni God, meron pang darating na iba para sayo."
Luckily, Taganas was employed by Maynilad water where he worked for five (5) years and played for the company's basketball team. When he learned that one of his corporate team's assistant coaches was forming a basketball team for the PBA D-League, he took his chances. He resigned from his work to pursue his dream of playing in the PBA.
"Nagtrabaho na ako dati. Naka five (5) years na ako dun eh. So parang nawalan na ako ng gana kasi noong nagpa-draft ako, hindi ako na draft. So parang iniwan ko. Nagtrabaho ako for five (5) years. Tapos nun, yung assistant coach namin dun sa pinagtrabahuan ko, magtatayo ng PBA D-League (team). So parang kinuha ako para maglaro ulit. So dun nagumpisa ulit. Nagustuhan kong bumalik na sa basketball. So parang binalikan ko lang yung dati kong pangarap. So yun, iniwan ko na yung trabaho at bumalik na ako sa dati kong pagmamahal sa basketball, Taganas recalled."Taganas signed with the AMA Titans of the PBA D-League in 2015 where he led the league in rebounding including a league record of 29 rebounds in a single game. His rebounding exploits earned the attention of some PBA coaches who were looking to beef up their front court.
Taganas was one step away from playing in the PBA when the Mahindra Enforcers, then under coach Chito Victolero, signed him as one of the team's practice players. It was there where he had the chance to learn from PBA veterans including Mark Yee who is also making a name in the MPBL for the Davao Occidental Tigers. It was Mark Yee who baptized him as "extra suman", a monicker derived from Beau Belga's "extra rice".
Lady luck was not on Taganas' side as the PBA shut the door on him again. For the second time, he failed to land a contract with the Mahindra Enforcers or with any other PBA team. Without any takers for his talent, he eventually found his way to the newly-formed MPBL in 2018 .
He signed with the Bulacan Kuyas, a team owned by Bulacan Congressman Jose Antonio "Kuya" Alvarado. Incidentally, he became a teammate of Marlou Aquino who came out of retirement to play in the fledgling MPBL.
Joining the MPBL proved to be the right decision for Taganas. As the league saw unprecedented success in viewership, Taganas likewise gained popularity as a rebounding machine for the Bulacan Kuyas.
As the starting center for the Kuyas, Taganas contributed an average of 5.7 points, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 10.3 rebounds each game during the Lakan Season. His friendly demeanor inspite of his size has endeared him to many of the fans. Although his team has to win a championship yet, his experience so far in the MPBL is nothing short of satisfactory.
"Masaya kasi yun nga, napapansin ako nung mga nanonood sa MPBL at malaking pasasalamat ko sa kanila kasi yun nga, naging crowd favorite ako at marami akong napapasaya dun sa paglalaro ko ng basketball." Taganas added.When asked if he expected the level of adoration he receives now from MPBL spectators, especially from his home crowd, Taganas stated:
"Hindi ko naman akalain na yun nga sisisikat ako dito sa MPBL. So ngayon, siguro masaya na, yun nga, maraming humahanga sa akin at marami akong napapasaya."Fondly called as "Baby Shaq", Taganas is really thankful for the MPBL for giving him second chance to play the sport he loves the most while earning a decent living out of it.
"Thankful din ako sa MPBL kasi yun nga, nabigyan ako ng second chance na maglaro ulit ng Basketball kasi dati parang wala na eh."Can Taganas finally cacth his big break and fulfill his dream of playing in the PBA? Nobody knows. Without a doubt, he only has a few gas remaining in his tank as he is already in his early 30's. But maybe, if he continues to dominate in rebounding while honing his other basketball skills such as shooting and passing, he may one day crack a PBA roster.
You can watch Beau Belga's interview with Shaq Taganas here.
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