Archie Concepcion might be the next Pampanga star for the PBA.
Archie Concepcion can run. And the 27-year-old guard from Angeles City, Pampanga proved he can run with the best players in the country after he was hailed as the Most Valuable Player of the PBA Draft Combine 5-on-5 tournament on Wednesday night.
He scored 14 points to help the NLEX Road Warriors win the final game, 78-71, against Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
"Sobrang saya na nakuha ko yung MVP. Pero bonus na lang ito. Ang importante naipakita namin 'yung talent namin at kung ano ang meron kami sa basketball," he told PBA.ph.
His first love wasn't basketball actually. It was track and field.
"Malikot 'yan," his mother Wilma Concepcion told the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). "Nakikipag-contest sa takbuhan."
It was only when a councilor saw him dunk during a street game with friends and offered him to try out for a team when Concepcion started to consider basketball as a career.
"Malaking bagay din na masuportahan sarili ko sa pag-aaral," Concepcion said in an MPBL interview.
His father had passed away, but the young Archie still wanted to fulfill his parents' dreams of finishing his studies.
"Dumating na sa puntong sabi ni mama, 'di na niya kayang suportahan pamasahe ko," Concepcion recounted. "Kailangan ko na mag-work para tulungan mama ko."
He was 18 years old.
"May time na piso na lang, makikipag-away pa siya sa jeepney driver," his wife Zean Aira recalled. "'Pag nawala 'yung pisong 'yun, di na siya makakauwi."
Jay Sierra, who helped him as coach, told Concepcion all he had to do was show up for practice, and they would all pitch in for his fare home.
"'Di bagay 'yung semi-pro," Concepcion recounted Sierra as saying. "Mas bagay maglaro ka muna sa collegiate."
The network led him to Jerry Codiñera and suiting up for the Arellano Chiefs in the NCAA as a forward. Eventually, Concepcion went back to Pampanga and represented his hometown in the MPBL.
His running skills helped him reach the top three in lane agility, finishing at 11.78 seconds, in the PBA Draft Combine. The 6-foot-2 guard then outshone the rest in the 5-on-5 tournament as MVP.
He took home P5,000 and another P5,000 for being named in the Mythical Team.
Joining Concepcion in the mythical selection were Mapua University's Warren Bonifacio, Marinerong Pilipino player Adrian Nocum, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel PBA 3x3 standout Ralph Cu, and Concepcion's NLEX teammate Jayson Apolonio, who played for Don Mariano Marcos and the Letran Knights.
On September 17, maybe Concepcion will have another chance to help his family if he gets selected in the PBA Draft.
Catch the PBA Draft on One Sports on September 17, Sunday, at 4 p.m.
(GM)