By Abby Toralba
IN a span of seven years, Cebuano guard Shane Menina hasmoved from Mapua University to National University to University of Cebu and now has finally landed at Arellano University.
Menina’s mission is simple in his final year in collegiate play — lead the Chiefs to the Promised Land of the 98th NCAA basketball tournament.
“Personally, ang goal ko is this season sana Arellano makapasok muna sa Final Four kasi last season hindi sila nakapasok, sa play-in lang, so need namin ngayon makapasok sa Final Four. After niyan, doon na magkaka-alaman para makapasok kami sa finals,” Menina told Malaya-Business Insight.
“Gagawin namin iyong best namin every practice, every game. Ituturing namin na every game is final, last game na namin para wala na kaming ibang iisipin. So, para sa Arellano community, Arellano management, sa bosses namin, itodo namin lahat every game,” he added.
Menina, 25, shared the sacrifices he endured before the season, including leaving his family in Cebu.
“Lumuwas ako dito sa Manila kasi taga-Cebu ako. Iyong family ko, nagpaalam ako doon na dito muna ako sa Manila. Iyong anak ko and iyong girlfriend ko nandito rin para hindi medyo ma-homesick,” Menina said.
“Tiyaga sa every practice kahit wala kaming natural big so tulungan nalang kami every practice, every laro, ano iyong mga tama at mali.”
In 2015, Menina suited up for the Cardinals, then under coach Atoy Co, but transferred to the Bulldogs two years later. The following year, the 5-foot-10 cager went back home to University of Cebu.
Menina said he is out to prove himself — now an older and wiser player who is expected to carry the Cholo Martin-mentored quintet to the Final Four after last making it in 2016, the same year the Chiefs advanced to the Big Dance behind now pros Jio Jalalon and Kent Salado.
“Iyong decision ko, noong (Season) 92 compared this (Season) 98 na matured na ako tapos naha-handle ko na iyong laro ko hindi katulad noon na hindi ko ma-handle iyong laro (ko),” he said.
“Hindi ko pa masabi ngayon (if the Chiefs could go all the way) kasi maaga pa (iyong season) so tratrabahuin muna namin para makuha namin iyong championship pero Final Four muna.”
