Mr. “Atin ‘To” Paul Desiderio grateful for longtime mentor

(Credits coach Edsel Vallena as part of his basketball journey towards success)

CEBU, Philippines —  For what he has achieved and for where he is right now in his career, Cebuano basketball star Paul Desiderio said a huge part of it is his longtime mentor, coach Edsel Say Vallena.

Desiderio made this revelation when he graced the seventh episode of the Magis Eagles TV last Friday night together with his former University of the Philippines (UP) teammate Jun Manzo.

“Coach Edsel is really my mentor way back when I started playing basketball until now,” Desiderio shared on the weekly sports chat that is shown live on the Facebook page of Magis Eagles Basketball every Friday starting at 7:30 pm.

In a separate interview, Desiderio said his bond with Vallena, a veteran coach who was a collegiate and commercial standout during his prime, blossomed a long time ago when he was only eight years old.

“My father Abner enrolled me in the (Sirlitz) basketball training camp of coach then he did not let us pay the registration fee because he wanted me to become his project player,” recalled Desiderio, now 23 and happily engaged to his longtime girlfriend Agatha Uvero.

During that moment, Vallena must have seen something special in Desiderio.

“I really see a potential in him. His built is too big and solid for his age. He’s also a very good boy. I knew right away that he has what it takes to become a successful player,” said Vallena.

Under the guidance of Vallena, Desiderio further polished his skills and eventually made a mark as a hardcourt star in the making.

“Coach Edsel guides me every step of the way since I was young,” said Desiderio. “We treat each other like family. I always ask his opinion on practically everything about my game, how to go over with my weaknesses, how to develop my strengths, and how to defend a certain player effectively. He helped me become a better player now.”

Desiderio first stamped his class when he bagged the Most Valuable Player award after guiding the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers to the juniors division crown of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) back in 2011.

Two years later, Desiderio embarked on a tougher challenge, this time on Diliman grounds as a member of the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP.

For five years, he slowly but surely worked his way to the top.

During his final performance that’s worth remembering for in the UAAP Season 81 in 2018, Desiderio carried out his role as team captain with flair by scoring UP’s last five points in a nerve-wracking 89-87 overtime victory over the Adamson University Falcons that vaulted the Maroons to their first championship appearance in 32 years.

He also became the first UP cager in 12 years to make it to the elite Mythical 5. Unfortunately, they got swept by the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their best-of-three title series.

The most memorable moment though for Desiderio in his last UAAP show happened during their first game of the season against the University of Sto. Tomas Tigers when he electrified the UP faithful with his famous “Atin ‘to” line, which ultimately became the State U’s battlecry in their quest for glory that ended up with a silver finish.

Without doubt, that is his enduring legacy to the entire UP community.

Desiderio’s success though did not come as a surprise for Vallena, head coach of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in the CESAFI.

“Desiderio is like a son to me. I know from the very start that he will go a long way,” said Vallena of Desiderio, who currently plays of Blackwater Elite in the PBA.

“During our training days when he was still a kid, our camp starts at 8 am yet he’s already ready by 6 am. And he didn’t mind riding everyday at the back of my multicab under the scorching heat of the sun with only his jersey as cover while we travel from Liloan to our training venue in Guadalupe, Cebu City and back. That’s how determined and dedicated he is.”

When Desiderio was already a certified UP star, Vallena said his prized ward still thinks and very much concerned on further improving his skills even while on vacation back in his hometown Liloan.

Vallena said that while other players tend to rest and have a good time when they return their respective provinces for a much needed vacation during the off-season, Desiderio thinks the other way around.

“Every time he’s in Cebu, he would always call me to request for a practice session. At one point, I asked him why he kept on practicing even when he’s on vacation. Paul then told me that he don’t want to suffer and go back to zero when he flies back to Manila. That’s how disciplined and hard working he is.”

“As a player, I don’t think any coach can say something negative about him because he’s very ‘coachable’. He’s easy to go along with, very humble and down-to-earth person,” added Vallena. “Whenever we see each other, he remains the simple, nice guy I know. He’s not that talented but because of his attitude and hard work, he succeeds in basketball and in life as well.”