Gem in the rough

Playing in Tondo really taught me to play intense. We really gave everything there — even just to win ice water.

FRAN Yu delivers when Letran needed a hero. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

Nobody thought that Fran Yu would emerge as a hero in Letran College’s shocking upset of San Beda University in the finals of Season 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

He’s not as imposing as a Donald Tankoua or as savvy as a Calvin Oftana, but the wiry playmaker gets the job done through grit, hard work and never-say-die attitude.

Yu’s journey to basketball glory is one for the books.

After cutting his teeth in the tough streets of Tondo in Manila, he enrolled at University of the East (UE) with the hopes of making it big.

But the hopes quickly died down as the Red Warriors cut him reportedly due to academic deficiency.

To a lesser player, getting dumped by a major college program is already a death sentence.

But for a braveheart like Yu, the battle has just begun.

“Playing in Tondo really taught me to play intense. We really gave everything there — even just to win ice water,” said Yu, narrating his tough, kill-or-be killed background where he draws motivation every time he steps on the hard court.

“But knowing that a championship is at stake, I played harder than before. The game was more than just ice water — it was about bringing down a dynasty and creating our own legacy.

He added that he heard it all at UE, further fueling the fire that is burning within him.

“But I just kept it cool. I’m not doing anything to them, why would they do that to me?”

He was playing at the Trail International School in Bangkok when he got a message from a former UE teammate.

“I was already in Bangkok at that time when Bonbon messaged me,” Yu said.

“He was inviting me to play for Letran. He said he was already there and there might be a spot for me. So I packed my bags and went home.”

At Letran, Yu found a way to redeem himself.

He made up for his lack of height and heft by training twice a day and outworking even the most talented player on the team.

His hard work paid a handsome reward as he helped the Knights reach the Final Four.

In the stepladder, they demolished San Sebastian College before clobbering the favored Lyceum of the Philippines University squad, booking a best-of-three finals duel with the Red Lions — a team that is fresh from a 27-day rest and haven’t lost a single game in its last 32 matches.

But a big time player like Yu shines in a big time situation.

He provided spark and energy off the bench that helped the Knights complete the upset of the Red Lions.

In the end, he posted 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals to be named the FInals Most Valuable Player. Yu said his success would not be possible if not for the heartbreaks he suffered.

“I used them as my motivation. I wanted to prove that looks don’t mean anything when you’re playing basketball,” Yu said, adding that if it’s not for Batiller things would have been different.

“When he asked me to play for Letran, he told me that we have to work hard and repay the trust and confidence our coaches gave us.”

And no amount of bashing can take the crown away from him.