WORDS by POLO BUSTAMANTE
Gian Mamuyac wasn’t supposed to be there.
Mamu said it himself. He was a skinny, 145-pound kid with no college offer. He was literally surrounded by stars when he was named as one of the SLAM Rising Stars back in 2016. He even remembered a media session before the game where he was placed in a group with fellow Rising Stars and no one approached him.
“‘Yun ‘yung parang All-Star kami na parang may 15 minutes per na uupo,” he recalled. “Pero wala naman pumunta sa akin kasi…” His voice trailed off and then he chuckled.
Despite that, Mamu still had fond memories of the entire experience. It didn’t matter to him that he wasn’t supposed to be there. What was important was that he was there. He finally had his chance to show everyone what he was capable of.
“As a competitor, kasama ka sa team and you’re competing against the best of the best, naturally, it just comes out, I want to beat them, I want to be the best, I want to show them,” he shared. “I just wanted to showcase na I belong and kaya kong makipagsabayan.”
This is the part of the movie where the underdog balls out and outplays everyone on the court. He becomes a college superstar and goes pro. Unfortunately, Mamu’s life isn’t a movie. The SLAM Rising Stars game itself was an eye-opening experience for him.
“Kasi if you’re going to watch the game, medyo malayo talaga ‘yung talent ng ibang players,” he explained. “Doon lang din na napa-realize sa akin na medyo malayo pa, madami pang kailangan trabahuhin.”
Mamu didn’t have to go far for college. He stayed close to home and moved up from the Eaglets to the Eagles. But it wasn’t a straight shot to the top team just yet. He had to spend some time in Team B to get ready for the rigors for college ball. Other players would have seen that as a demotion. Mamu saw it as an opportunity.
“Ateneo recruited me kahit hindi naman ako masyadong kumbaga college-ready player,” he said. “Medyo grateful din ako na nag-Team B muna ako. I really used that year para maging ready for the next year.”
When he joined the main squad, Mamu was ready whenever his name was called. He understood his role on the team and played it perfectly almost every game. He knew he wasn’t a star. But he also understood the impact he had on the game.
“Whenever si Coach Tab put me in, I just made sure na mararamdaman ako on defense, ‘yung impact ko on defense,” Mamu explained. “I made sure na ‘yung defense ko never, hinding-hindi mawawala. It’s always the first thing that I will focus on.”
Ironically, Mamu’s college career ended on a failed defensive stand.
“Ako ‘yung chuma-llenge kay JD Cagulangan for that 36-year drought,” he shared about the game-winning shot that gave UP the championship in his final UAAP game.
Mamu didn’t have time to sulk because a few days after one of the biggest plays in his collegiate career, he was already getting ready for the biggest moment of his life: the PBA Draft.
“Sobrang saya ko lang din during that day na from my lowest point of my career to that uncertain point na bago ka matawag hindi mo alam kung ano ‘yung future,” he explained. “Sobrang saya ko lang din na ‘yung team na napuntahan ko is unang-una Rain or Shine, which is a dream of mine to play for Rain or Shine kasi fan ako ng underdogs.”
From being a footnote, Mamu was suddenly the fifth pick of the 2022 PBA Draft. He was selected by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the perfect team for a scrappy, hard-nosed, defensive player like him.
Just like he has throughout his career, Mamu continued to play his role and tried to make an impact every game through his intensity and consistency. He’s been a reliable option for Rain or Shine as a rookie and now as one of their veteran leaders. Mamu has been such an exemplary player that in only his fourth year with the team, he was voted as the team captain to step in for the retiring Gabe Norwood.
“I’m grateful to Kuya Gabe for this, kasi the moment I was elected as captain, I looked at him and said, ‘I don’t think I’m ready,’” Mamu shared. “But then he said, ‘Just do you. Just continue to become you or just continue doing what you’re always doing.’ Kasi that’s why they elected you.’”
Now, as a captain, the fire inside of him is burning even more. Make no mistake. While he may not seem like the most outwardly competitive player, Mamu has set lofty goals for himself.
“Ako talaga for this team, for this group of people na I’m with, kung sino man ‘yung team ko ngayon, I really want to win for them. I really want to win with them,” he said proudly.
His goals go beyond just a championship.
“When it’s all said and done, pag tapos na ‘yung career ko, I want to be part of the very best. Siyempre ang goal is to be part of PBA history.”
When people think of SLAM Rising Stars, they tend to focus on the “stars” part of it. Mamu has shown that the “rising” is just as important. You can’t stop working once your name has been called. He’s proven at every level in his career that the grind never stops if you want to be the best.
“It’s not always going to be handed to you. You really have to work hard for it kasi from my experience, I was never the most talented one in the room. I was never the [best] shooter, the most pinakamalaking katawan or pinaka-physical. I wasn’t really the smartest but I made sure na I was the most hardworking one,” he said.
“You’re not entitled to anything. You have to get it every single day.”
