Hoop heartthrob Ateneo's Nico Saslva

CEBU, Philippines – Basketball comes naturally to Nicolas Raymund Salva. This Ateneo Blue Eagles player has been touted as one of the most watched out for in the UAAP, not just for his natural good looks (as confirmed by the collective cheers of female fans during his team’s games at the Cebu Coliseum recently), but also for his display of intensity and love for the sport. 

The 19-year-old Nico, who towers at 6’4”, plays small forward and power forward of the UAAP 2008 Champion Ateneo Blue Eagles. Though playing as a rookie last year, Nico (#14) proved to be one of the most promising players of the team, making sure to make his own contribution as his team bagged the championship crown. In fact, he was named to the First Rookie Team of last year’s UAAP Season.

Naturally athletic

As far as Nico remembers, he has been dribbling the ball since he was around 3 years old.

“My parents introduced me to the game. Both of my parents were varsity players when they were in college at the University of the Philippines Diliman. So yun, we played every day. They trained me a lot. Kaya naging natural na yung sport,” he says.

During his high school years, even in his third year, he already received offers to join different basketball teams in the UAAP. But, of course, it was the offer to join the ADMU Blue Eagles that he accepted.

“They’re very friendly. Feel ko talaga na welcome ako,” Nico smiled.

Last year was a great season for the team; this year, he hopes they get to maintain the championship crown, and even get a “better season.”

He said he will continue to do his best and help the team grab the championship again this year.

So what makes him a good player?

“[It’s] my drive for the game. I’m not contented with how I play. I want to improve every time,” he said, narrating that he plays basketball six times a week, and tries to get 8 hours of sleep and observes the right nutrition to keep his body healthy and fit.

Juggling school work

and basketball

For a basketball player like Nico, studies are still a priority.

He is taking up Interdisciplinary Studies, majoring in Psychology and Communication. He said he is able to apply in his studies the values he learned in basketball.

“Yung discipline sa sarili para mag-aral at pagiging responsible. Importante yun para maging successful sa buhay,” he said.

After school, Nico wants to earn a slot in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and run his own restaurant business.

The next “Chris Tiu”?

As if he hasn’t had enough roles to play in his life, he plays a third role: As a part-time model. But for Nico, who is gracing a youth-oriented glossy and who is endorsing a sporting brand, modeling continues to be a totally different ballgame.

“Wala pa kasi akong masayadong alam tungkol dito. Kailangan ko pang kilalanin ang mga tao sa industriyang ito. Pero so far, okay naman,” he said.

Modeling isn’t really part of his plans as he wants to focus on basketball and school. But since opportunities are cropping up, he might as well make the most of them.

Showbiz seems to beckon for Nico as well, and in that aspect, what he wants to explore is “hosting… and well, maybe a little acting. But hosting talaga. Tsaka mga TV guestings na rin,” he shared.

From basketball to hosting, it seems Nico is following Chris Tiu’s tracks. Could he be the next Chris Tiu, Ateneo Blue Eagles’ former captain and model student, who is now enjoying a showbiz career as host of GMA 7 shows Ripley’s Believe or Not and Pinoy Records?

Nico, who doesn’t mind being compared to Chris Tiu, said, “It would be my pleasure. Siyempre, si Chris Tiu yan e. He can do everything. He has everything. Everybody looks up to him.”

With this kind of open and positive mindset, Nico Salva might probably will.