It is an open secret that the Visayas, particularly Cebu, is a hotbed of basketball talents. If somebody disputes such fact, you just need to point out that the best talent in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) right now hails from Pinamungajan, Cebu. That's right, it is no other than June Mar Fajardo who is the only player to win six (6) straight Most Valuable Player (MVP) award on top of his eight (8) championship trophies, three (3) Finals MVP, and eight (8) Best Player of the Conference citations.
Junemar Fajardo is definitely not the first Cebuano who made a name in the PBA. Some of the notable Cebuanos who dazzled in the Philippine's most competitive league include Roger Yap and Dondon Hontiveros among others. Junemar Fajardo is likewise not the last as more and more collegiate players from Cebu are transferring to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) because these Manila-based leagues offer bigger exposure, and perhaps an easier path into the PBA.
In recent years, a lot of Cebuano players brought their talents into the UAAP such as Paul Desiderio and Jun Manzo who both played for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, Ron Dennison and Roger Pogoy of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, and Leonard Santillan of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers. Similar to these young talents, Joseph Nalos is also one of the young guns who tried their luck in Manila for the chance of playing in the big leagues.
Joseph Nalos' basketball journey started early when he was just a kid in Lomboy, Dumanjug, Cebu Province, thanks to his father who introduced and inspired the latter has a game.
"Nag umpisa talaga akong maglaro sa province namin sa Lomboy Dumanjug Province ng Cebu. Simula nung pagkabata talagang mahilig na ako sa basketball. Tatay ko talaga yung nag inspire sakin na maglaro kasi isa din siyang player dati dito sa amin. Sumasama ako sa kanya pag may laro siya sa ibat ibang lugar. Sa province kasi namin harap ng bahay namin basketball court na. Kaya araw araw may naglalaro pero hind pa ako makalaro sa mga panahon na yun kasi d pa nila ako pinapalaro kasi yun nga maliit lang ako nun. Kaya nagtiis lang din ako at nag antay sa tamang panahon. At dumating ako sa point na sabi ko sa sarili ko na magiging varsity player din ako balang araw, Joseph Nalos shared in an interview with I'm a Baller Reload facebook page.
When the time came and with confidence, Joseph Nalos tried out for a roster spot in the varsity team of his school when he was a second (2nd) year student in high school. Unfortunately for him, he did not make the cut.
Be that as it may, he tried again the following year in the varsity teams of the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) and University of Cebu (UC) but he was again rejected. As disappointing as it was, Joseph Nalos did not lose hope as he still believed that he can find a team. True enough, an opportunity opened up for him as he was accepted as a varsity player for the Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U).
"Noong tumungtong na ako ng 2nd year high school, nag tryout ako sa isang school sa Cebu para pumasok ng varsity sa High School. Pero hindi ako natanggap noong unang taon na nag tryout ako. Umulit ako the next year, nag tryout ako sa USJR and sa UC kaso ganoon pa rin, full na yung lineup nila. Sabi ko sa tatay ko na baka hindi ko talaga kaya siguro. Pero sya, hindi niya ako sinukuan, Sabi niya may isa pang school. At sa wakas, doon na ako natanggap sa CIT-U kaya sobrang nakakatuwa kasi pag may nag close na door pala sayo siguradong may bubukas na panibagong pag asa," explained Joseph Nalos.
Joseph Nalos became super proud with his achievement when his team won the championship in the Juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Federation, Inc. (CESAFI). It was a historical moment because it was the very first championship ever of CIT-U.
"Super proud ako na naging player ako ng CIT-U nung highschool years ko kasi napa champion namin ang school and history yun sa CIT-U kasi 1st time naging Champion sa CESAFI and dahil dito bale doon ko rin nakilala ang mga tunay kung mga kaibigan na hanggang ngayon buo pa kami," added Joseph Nalos.
That was not the last championship that Joseph Nalos won in the CESAFI. In the Seniors Division, Joseph Nalos played with the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in 2012 where he also brought home the championship trophy. His championship stint with SWU opened more doors for him as his team was invited to play in the Unigames in Bacolod. It was there where he played against university teams from Metro Manila, and it was also during the Unigames where he was scouted by coach Leo Austria to play for the Adamson University Falcons in the UAAP.
"Bago ako napunta ng Adamson, naglaro muna ako sa SWU Cebu. Naging CESAFI champion din kami noong 2012. And naglaro kami noon sa Bacolod para sa isang UNIGAMES. Madaming Manila Teams na sumali noon. Doon ako nakita ni Coach Leo Austria kaya napunta ako sa Adamson. After namin mag-unigames ,sinabihan ko family ko na kinausap ako ng Adamson," recalled Joseph Nalos.
While he was a bit hesitant to go to Metro Manila to pursue his basketball dreams, his father encouraged him to try his luck with the Adamson Falcons. Despite having to endure an unfamiliar environment, Joseph Nalos heeded his father's advice and he followed coach Leo Austria into the Falcon's nest where he had the chance to team up with Rodney Brondial and Jericho Cruz.
It took a while for Joseph Nalos to adjust with the culture and pace of living in Metro Manila. Thankfully, his family was always present to guide and support him in his quest for his basketball dream.
Although Joseph Nalos is yet to play in the PBA after graduating from Adamson, he continues to chase his dreams by playing in equally competitive leagues such as the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). In the last season of the MPBL prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Joseph Nalos played sixteen (16) games with the Bataan Risers where he posted per game averages of 3.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He was later traded to the Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardine's squad in the middle of the season. He averaged 4.6 points per game, 1 rebound per game, and 2.6 assists per game for Zamboanga. Currently, Joseph Nalos is playing in the VisMin Supercup while waiting for the MPBL to resume.
Undoubtedly, Joseph Nalos' basketball journey was not a smooth sailing. He faced hardships here and there but he did not give up, thanks to the support of his family. So here's a piece of advice to those who are chasing the dream just like Joseph Nalos.
"Ang message ko sa mga kabataan ngayon, huwag ninyong sukuan ang pangarap ninyo. Minsan lang kayo maging basketball player, kaya bigyan niyo yan ng panahon. Huwag ninyo pakinggan ang mga taong walang tiwala sa inyo, hindi sila makakatulong sa inyo. Prove them wrong. Kung nagawa namin siguradong magagawa nyo din. Wag lang kayo sumuko. Laban lang para sa pangarap!"
We hear you Joseph Nalos. God bless on you endeavors.
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