By NIKOLE JAVIER
LA SALLE guard Mark Nonoy ended his collegiate career exactly the way he envisioned it – a champion.
The Season 82 Rookie of the Year re-emerged in timely fashion in the recently concluded UAAP Season 86, picking up his pace and helping the Green Archers in their undefeated run in the second round of the elimination before entering the finals.
His finals stint with the Archers was a special one – rising to the challenge in Game 2 to help the Taft-based squad evened the best-of-three title series with an 82-60 win.
Nonoy moved to La Salle from UST in 2020 in the wake of the “Sorsogon bubble” controversy, where it was revealed that the Growling Tigers were training in Aldin Ayo’s hometown, in an apparent violation of the government’s quarantine protocols at the time.
Shortly after, the España-based squad’s key players who steered the school to the finals a year prior, left one by one including University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons’ CJ Cansino, who faced Nonoy in the Season 86 Finals that saw La Salle end its seven-year title drought.
Cansino, though, immediately ensured his vindication after being one of the catalysts that towed UP to its first UAAP title in 36 years in Season 84 before suffering an ACL injury two months later.
Aside from Cansino, Rhenz Abando and Brent Paraiso found a new home in the NCAA with the Letran Knights, marking their own legacy in the collegiate ranks after the controversy that threatened their young careers.
With his former teammates quickly finding a new lease in life after the matter, Nonoy had to wait a while before completing his personal redemption in the league.
“Friends pa rin [kami ni CJ Cansino] off the court. Pero in the finals, sabi ko set aside na muna namin ‘yung friendship namin. Kasi siya naka-experience na rin ng championship sa UAAP. Bale, si Rhenz (Abando) din sa NCAA, sila Brent (Paraiso). So parang ako lang ‘yung wala pang nakuhang championship,” Nonoy said.
“Sobrang saya ko sa team namin way back Season 82. Ginawa ko ring motivation ‘yun nung lumipat ako sa La Salle. Siyempre nagka-pandemic. So maraming struggle rin na nalagpasan ko rin. So, ito worth it.”
With those sad stories now completely behind him and his ex-teammates, Nonoy is looking forward to rest and recover before deciding on his next move for a potential professional stint.
“Siguro next year na ‘yan. Kailangan ko mag-spend ng time with my family. Kasi almost ilang months din kami hindi nakauwi sa province namin. Relax lang muna. Baka magdesisyon ako next year pa,” he concluded.
