Game of thrones

CEBU, Philippines - The 23-year-old University of the Visayas Green Lancers point guard John Abad has had 59 Facebook friend requests—70-something notifications, 10 inbox messages—the morning after the team snagged the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.(CESAFI) trophy last week.

Being a non-active user of social media, he could no longer recall what were posted on his wall, but presumably, they were tags of courtside photos taken by fans, congratulatory remarks from family members and a few from lady admirers. While the number of requests and notifications may appear ordinary, it could be a little overwhelming for the basketball player, who is—in the context of the majority of youth in the online circle—a cyber wallflower.

“I was surprised with the attention. Kids, basketball fans, students asked me to have a photo taken with them right after the game,” the Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management student enthused. “I have a few posts on my Facebook account; at times, no activity at all. But since my team won, I received a lot of chats, messages, and posts. Actually, my girlfriend opens my account for me.”

Apart from physical discipline, John has lived a healthy lifestyle for his girlfriend Dionabel (her name tattooed on his left arm) of one year.

“My girlfriend has given her full support. I really haven’t considered the glamorous side of the winning. I am not a celebrity, and I am definitely not a basketball heartthrob. I am celebrating with the rest of us who believed in our capabilities and in our faith in God that brought the Green Lancers to the finals. I was so happy about winning that I didn’t notice that some of the spectators from the upper box were already throwing water bottles at us.”

Before the 13th CESAFI season began, the team had a spiritual group sharing, followed by the film viewing of Facing the Giants, facilitated by John’s Christian pastor.

“No secret at all,” he says of the strategy, “we’ve stayed to the game plan of coach Donbel (Felix Belano) and to the advice from the Gullas family: heart, defense, prayer.”

John Abad is not comfortable being dragged into the spotlight. Or to any form of adulation that leads him to that. So, he is the perfect man to introduce the return of the black-and-white suit, a classic man’s ensemble, which doesn’t struggle for attention. “It’s my first time to wear a suit,” he laughs. “I feel it’s a new guy I see on the mirror.”

In the meantime, the UV Green Lancers players are waiting for their turn at the Philippine Collegiate Champions League by end of this year.

“I’ll see from there where I go next.” Photographed by Bibi delos Reyes