Published November 25, 2024 10:53pm
Updated November 25, 2024 10:53pm
Chris Hubilla has been longing for a taste of the finals ever since setting foot in the NCAA, but his lone year with the San Beda Red Cubs in 2023 saw them fall short.
Hubilla led the Red Cubs in the Season 98 juniors tournament, finishing at the second spot to secure a twice-to-beat advantage. But College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills was able to overcome, winning twice in a row to book a finals date with eventual champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
And it may have taken him a while, but Hubilla gets to realize that dream now.
The star rookie helped surging Mapua University to its second straight finals appearance after they eliminated NCAA Season 100 host Lyceum of the Philippines University in the semifinals.
“Sobrang hindi ko ma-explain ‘yung saya kasi nga juniors pa lang ako gusto ko nang makapasok ng finals, pero hindi pa rin pinalad. Pero God’s plan talaga and tinrabaho naman namin ‘to,” Hubilla told GMA News Online.
[I really can’t explain how happy I am because I’ve been wanting to reach the finals since I was in the juniors but I wasn’t fortunate enough. But it’s God’s plan and we worked really hard for this.]
Hubilla was crucial in the Cardinals’ Final Four escape of the Pirates, fueling their fourth quarter breakaway amid an LPU comeback attempt. He finished with 17 points as he helped not to waste the career-high 33-point outing from reigning MVP Clint Escamis.
Hubilla also tallied eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist.
“Nag-struggle kasi ako nu’ng first quarter e, parang gigil akong makatulong. Pero ‘yung mga coaches hindi ako pinapabayaan, pinu-push nila ‘yung kumpiyansa ko and lumabas lang sa fourth quarter,” he shared.
“Kailangan ko lang mag-give [ng tulong] kahit rookie pa lang ako. Need ko mag-step up kasi wala naman ditong basehan kung rookie ka or ano, basketball ito e.”
[I struggled in the first quarter, I was too eager to contribute. But the coaches took care of me, they pushed me to be confident and it came around in the fourth quarter.]
But the 6-foot-4 forward said the job is far from done, stressing they have to remain laser-focused especially in an impending grueling finals affair with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
“Sobrang happy ko lang kasi rookie ako tapos nasa finals na ako, pero ‘di pa tapos hanggang makamit namin ‘yung gusto. Hindi pa tapos ‘yung goal namin. Ang goal namin dito ay mag-champion, hindi lang makapasok lang.”
[I’m just so happy because I’m just a rookie and I’m already in the finals. But the job’s not done until we reach our goal. Our goal is to be champions, not just to get in the finals.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
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