It's a nice underdog story.
If you were watching the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters-Meralco Bolts PBA on Tour game on Sunday, you probably wondered who was the guy wearing no. 21 in white.
It was Daniel Atienza.
But no, he’s not officially a PBA player just yet. He was only included in the Fuel Masters’ lineup for the league's preseason tilt.
But after producing 9 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal in over 14 of minutes of play in the 100-93 win against Meralco, and canning a pair of pressure-packed free throws that sealed the 106-101 win against the San Miguel Beermen in the opener, who knows, he might see his PBA dream fulfilled soon.
His trek to this moment was everything but easy, though.
Atienza’s underdog story began with the NU Bullpups. The 5-foot-8 cager, part of the team that won 3 UAAP juniors’ basketball titles, dislocated his shoulders during the 2017 season.
Call it Mamba Mentality or whatever, but he wanted to play through the pain than miss the finals series against the Ateneo Blue Eaglets.
Then NU coach Jamike Jarin saw all that and liked it.
“I saw him when I was head coach in NU. He was in high school, he needed his shoulders operated. But he didn’t want it operated kasi he didn't want to miss the championship against the Eaglets that time,” Jarin said.
“He couldn’t even put his hands up. So I saw him parang sabi ko, ‘Wow. He would make sacrifices, even his career, just to contribute to his team. It stuck with me.”
Unfortunately for Atienza, things haven’t panned out for him after high school. To cut the long story short, he is now practically trying out for an official spot in the Fuel Masters.
But so far, so good for the speedster, who briefly played in the MPBL preseason.
“He gave me a call a few months ago, he was cut from a different league, (asking) if he can work out, get in shape. When he gets a call from the other league he would be ready. That’s the story,” Jarin shared.
“He’s with us, helping out, scouting, working out. Then fortunately for him the PBA on Tour opened, and you’re allowed to bring in players that are looking [to enter] the draft. Everything just fell into place.”
To this day, the outspoken mentor still sees the same mentality in the young playmaker. Only time will tell if Atienza will reap the fruit of his perseverance.
“You can see he’s following instructions, giving his best, no fear. But I’m happy for him. He’s got a bright future ahead of him not only in basketball. But with that type of winning mentality, fight mentality, he will go places,” he said.
(GM)