LITTLE known Guang Ming College, a performing arts school in Tagaytay, stunned reigning three-time NCAA champion Letran 84-79 last week in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
While the Flying Dragons failed to reach the quarterfinal due to an inferior total score in the two-game play-in series, coach Gingerich is convinced his young team is in the right direction.
“Easy to say this is our best win in less than a year as a program. It’s something to look forward to,” Gingerich, a former University of the Philippines cager in the UAAP, said.
“I’m still extremely proud of the guys and their efforts. It makes me so happy to see them improve so much and raise their level of competition,” he added.
GMC ruled the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Luzon qualifiers to gain a slot in the pre-season tilt.
Even the players are relishing the rare chance to play against some of the top collegiate teams in Manila and expose themselves to high-level competition.
“I feel very privileged to compete with these guys. I’m just so happy for the win,” Nigerian big man Dikachi Odudo said.
Skipper Joshua Jamias added: “Dati pinapangarap ko lang na makalaro sa mga ganitong arena pero ngayon, nandito na ako.”
Making this more laudable is how the players really strive both on and off the court, with all of them coming from indigent families and given full scholarship for their Bachelor in Sports Science degrees under the leadership of school president Michael Tan and sports director Bo Perasol.
“That’s one of the reasons why I love coaching GMC, to see the opportunities that we’re able to provide to these kids,” Gingerich said. “Coach Bo always tells the players whenever we go to the provinces that they’re not that different from players in Manila. It’s just that they don’t have the opportunities.
“So, for us, it’s about giving these guys who are most deserving the opportunity to study, to get their education for free, na sagot ng school na libre iyong dorm, damit, jerseys, sapatos. Lahat ibinibigay ng school sa kanila.”
Jamias, a walk-on and one of the pioneering GMC players, spoke on behalf of the players at how grateful they are for the program in helping them get a way out of poverty through sports.
