The COVID-19 derailed everyone’s dreams, including Godoy’s.
A 14-year-old Jheremy Godoy was busy honing his basketball skills in Manaoag, Pangasinan in early 2020.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
His budding basketball career derailed, Godoy was forced to work in construction to help his family mitigate the effects of the pandemic that claimed the lives of millions.
“Nagsimula po ako mag-work nung pandemic po. Nag-stop po ako maglaro kasi kailangan tumulong sa family. Probinsya po, so mahirap po buhay kaya pinili ko magtrabaho kesa mag-basketball,” Godoy told reporters via Smart Sports.
But like moths cleaving to light, Godoy and basketball were inseparable. Eventually, he found his way back after a local coach asked him to strut his stuff.
“Inimbitahan lang po ako uli ng isang coach sa’min. Tumakas lang po ako para makapaglaro, nakitaan po ako ng potensyal,” said the Terrence Romeo fan.
Everything just fell into place after that.
The now-16-year-old cager ended up playing for the FEU Baby Tamaraws, and recently got called up to serve the national team as part of the 18-man pool locking horns in the 2023 SEABA U16 championship in Indonesia.
He joined a Gilas Pilipinas Boys’ team under coach Josh Reyes boasting of familiar names like Kieffer Alas, Irus Chua, Ziv Espinas, CJ Amos, and Jamie Gomez de Liaño in the July 17-19 tournament serving as qualifier for the FIBA U16 Asian Championship.
From carrying cement and hollow blocks, he is now carrying the nation in international tournaments, all because he chose to chase his dream.
Opportunities such as this is hard to come by. That’s why Godoy is making the most out of it.
“Sobrang saya po kasi isang malaking opportunity po sa’kin ito na dumating. Hindi ko po sasayanging itong binigay sa akin na opportunity,” he said.
Gilas will take on Malaysia (July 17), Thailand (18), and the home team (19).
(GM)