Trusting the process

And deliver they did.

Rye Villaruz made an explosive return from a one-year hiatus as he dropped 24 points and 11 rebounds with three steals while sharpshooter Enzo Purugganan came off the bench to notch 19 points in nearly 20 minutes of action, underscoring the firepower of the Junior Archers who struggled to find their mark last year.

The biggest revelation, however, was Andrei Francisco. The 14-year-old gunner erupted for 15 points on a red-hot 7-of-11 shooting from the field to repay the trust given to him by head coach Hyram Bagatsing.

Actually, there’s no better person to pump life into the program than Bagatsing. Aside from bringing in youthful energy that is perfect for that age bracket, the 41-year-old tactician learned at the feet of legendary coach Franz Pumaren, bringing with him not just the winning legacy but also the values, tradition and culture of the La Salle squad that took the UAAP men’s tournament by storm around two decades ago.

And to make sure that Bagatsing will effectively pass down all the La Sallian values to the new breed of stars, the squad’s management group headed by Erick Arejola, Joey Marquez and Ed Evangelista with program director Boris Aldeguer surrounded him with his former college teammates in LA Revilla, Joshua David Webb, and Thomas Torres on the bench.

Zobel, indeed, is now bleeding green. These Junior Archers are not just competing to win; they are playing to make the school proud while displaying the La Sallian values that produced some of the country’s most brilliant minds in sports, business, and politics.

But what made the Junior Archers’ victory truly special was the manner they notched it. Unlike other schools, Zobel is taking a very conservative approach in running its athletic program. It doesn’t have ultra-rich benefactors who cough out handsome amounts to carry their brands.

Instead, Zobel is doing things organically. As early as nine or 10 years old, the school already trains athletes who have the interest, skills and overall potential to excel. They teach them the values of discipline, friendship, teamwork and hard work until they make it to higher age brackets like 12U and 14U.

When these players wrap up their stints at 14U, that’s the time that they prepare for the bigger stage — the UAAP 16U. Yes, there may be around two to four recruits, but the core of the squad is still composed of the same players who have been playing together since they were kids.

While other programs are opting for quick-fix solutions, Zobel is taking it slow, patiently developing its homegrown talents until such a time that they are good enough to compete. For them, winning has to sometimes take a backseat in favor of honest-to-goodness development both on the court and inside the classroom.

And that’s what made their breakthrough victory over the Blue Eagles truly heartwarming.

Villaruz and Purugganan grew up dribbling at the Sports Pavillion inside the school’s Alabang campus while Francisco — although technically still a UAAP rookie — has worked his way up as he has been studying at Zobel since pre-school until Grade 10.

So yes, the victory over Ateneo wasn’t just a mere check on the UAAP standing that ended a year of heartaches and frustrations. It was a special moment for the Zobel basketball program as it shows that with hard work, determination, perseverance — and a lot of prayers — anything is possible.

Zobel is not just developing the skills of its basketball players. They are also shaping the hearts and minds of these young men, teaching them to win the right way no matter how long, no matter how hard it takes.

Good job, boys. Enjoy your UAAP journey.