Adamson's Simon Camacho aiming to make his Cavite hometown and family proud

MANILA, Philippines – Maragondon, Cavite is a sleepy town. It’s the last town in Cavite before Batangas. It is also of historical significance as it isthe birth place of the Katipunan general Mariano De Dios.

One can also find the Teodorico Reyes Ancestral Home, which is commonly known as the house and museum where Katipunan founder Andres Bonifacio was tried by a military court before he was executed in nearby Mt. Nagpatong.

For tourists and those seeking a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila, Pico De Loro can also be found here.

In terms of professional sports, ex-pro Josel Angeles who played seven years in the PBA with San Miguel, Alaska, and Mobiline/Talk ‘N Text, also hails from here. But it has been 17 years since Angeles was seen on television.

Nowadays, when the UAAP men’s basketball tournament, or today, as in the PBA D-League is seeing action, the townsfolk are glued to their television sets — or watch on livestream for the younger set — to see Simon Camacho play.

In the past couple of seasons, Camacho has been known to be a role player and shot blocker. During the recent UAAP Season 80, Simon started three matches for the Soaring Falcons and averaged 3.2 and 2.8 rebounds in nine minutes of play.

These past few months have seen the 6’5” forward-center play a bigger role for the Akari-Adamson squad. He has not only gotten more playing time, but he has been solid. He scored the game winning lay-up (and game-saving block) against Marinerong Pilipino in the ongoing D-League Aspirants’ Cup. Against Wngs-Letran, he was named Player of the Game. And just the other day, in the team’s last outing in the semis against Che’Lu Bar & Grill-San Sebastian, led the team with 15 points.

Camacho is grateful to Akari-Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren for giving him the exposure and confidence.

It is actually incredible when you think that growing up in Maragondon, Camacho never played organized basketball. His school didn’t even have an organized sports program.

“I just played street basketball with my older brother Erick teaching me,” recalled Simon of those days that don’t seem too long ago.

Going to Manila, he enrolled at Adamson… as a student. Then as a walk-in, tried out for the varsity team, but didn’t make it.

“I lacked the confidence to compete at that time,” noted Simon. “It didn’t help that I was shy as well.”

However, two years later, he made the lineup and suited up for the Falcons’ Season 78 squad. “I think at the end of the day, your drive to reach your dream (which is to play in the PBA) will give you the confidence,” he postulated.

A huge part of his drive is his mother, Gloria, who left when Simon was young to work on a cruise ship. “It was a huge sacrifice for my mother to be far away from my brother and I just to provide for us,” noted Simon.

Eventually, as she got older, working on a cruise ship became harder for Simon’s mother and she had to let go of her duties. 

“It was difficult for us financially, that is why I pushed myself to get an athletic scholarship,” said Simon.

Getting that scholarship has greatly eased the financial burden on the Camachos. With Erick now working at Accenture, the attention now has shifted to Simon’s burgeoning career.

“I have been blessed to have my two hardworking sons,” said the mother in the vernacular to this writer when I visited their home in Maragondon. “I was away when they were young and it was my sister and her husband who raised them. But I desperately wanted to come home and raise them, watch them grow up. And now to see them at this point in their life… it’s a blessing!”

On UAAP game days, Mrs. Camacho never fails to make the two-hour trip to watch Simon play. “It feels great to watch. Ganito pala ang UAAP atmosphere. I feel bad lang when his team losses. All I can give it my support and words of encouragement.”

Camacho has two years left to play, including this upcoming UAAP Season 81. “When I was playing street ball back home, all I thought about was playing again. I didn’t think of college ball yet. But now, if I can try out even for the national team or even get a chance to be drafted to the PBA, it would help me and my family.”

But that’s looking ahead. For today, and the next two years, Camacho is focused to helping Adamson chase that elusive title.

From a walk-in to a window of opportunity, not bad for Simon Camacho.

And he has the town of Maragondon watching him every step of the way.