IT may be a few years yet before his dreams come true but for Arellano University sophomore and Pampanga native Archie Concepcion, things are falling into place.
I have always said the winning combination to success in life for anyone will be skills and attitude and Archie scores high on both despite just being 22 years old. In fact, he improved so much from his rookie year in the NCAA that he emerged as the NCAA Most Improved Player when his ranking jumped from 94th overall to 52nd after getting more playing time and averaging double digits in scoring this season.
Incoming Arellano head coach Cholo Martin whom I saw and talked during the Finals game between San Beda and Lyceum at the Mall of Asia Arena believes Archie will play a big role in the school’s campaign next year. Martin cited Archie’s good fundamentals coupled with his hard working attitude.
Like other collegiate players, Archie also dreams of playing in the PBA but not for fame and glory. He is thinking of the money he will earn but not for himself but for his family — his mother and four younger siblings — who now look up to him as the father of the family.
You see his father died of stroke in 2013, the same year that he shifted from being a track and field athlete in high school. He competed in the 100m run, long jump and triple jump events and it was his father’s friends too that encouraged him to shift to basketball after seeing him play in pick-up games.
He was supposed to play for Pampanga’s PBA Young Stars team back then but was found to be overaged.
A councilor saw him dunking in a game and was very much impressed.
Archie is only 6-foot-1 and he played two years with St. Nicholas College under Jay Sierra who gave him the confidence he needed. Later, he was scouted by Buds Reyes for the Foton basketball team but was scouted by then Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera who offered him a slot in the Arellano varsity squad.
This is his primary motivation, being able to provide for and improve the quality of his family’s life and he is willing to put in all the sacrifices and hard work needed to make his dream come true. But on the side, he also looks at playing for the national team in the future as a privilege and honor if the opportunity comes.Presently, he has an offer to play for the Pampanga Lanterns in the MPBL but Trinity, which plays in the D-League, is also interested in him and Archie is weighing things between the two.
Presently, from whatever allowances, bonuses and playing pick-up games during the offseason, he goes home during weekends to his family and gives part of what he has earned to his mother and siblings.
But the best thing I like in this 22-year-old player is his other big dream which is to finish his college studies and prepare for his future with or without basketball, saying he will definitely have more options on being able to take care of his family if he is a college graduate. He is presently on his second year of Business Administration studies in Arellano.
My kumpadre and ex-PBA player Fritz Gaston not only finished college but has a Masters degree course at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). He used his educational benefit and his efforts paid off as he found work as a senior manager in the corporate world even going to Indonesia for a time as a working expat manager.
And I believe there are a few other former basketball players who completed their college education and are presently working as managers in various companies. Manny V. Pangilinan has several ex-San Beda and Ateneo players working within his group of companies, while some like my good friend Mike Advani has become a successful businessman after his basketball career.
Archie is indeed on the right track for the future.
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