The power of social media.
Saniel Peñaverde, San Sebastian Staglets’ prized acquisition, was recruited by head coach Juan Miguel Martin, thru Facebook, and since then, it has changed the course of the Recto-based dribblers.
“Sa Facebook ko lang yan nakuha,” Martin told PinoyStep.com in an exclusive interview.
A former Palarong Pambansa standout playing for Naga, Peñaverde didn’t hesitate the moment he received a message from Coach Martin and immediately, the 18-year-old senior high school student became a vital cog of the Staglets, who reached the Final Four of the recent National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors division to earn a spot in the SMART-NBTC National Finals.
“Sa Facebook lang ako nakuha ni Coach. Sa Team Naga,” said Peñaverde. “Nag-message sa akin si Coach, sabi niya napanood niya daw ako sa Facebook. Yung liga sa Naga.”
Peñaverde is a typical player who would spend most of his time playing on the basketball court.
A day would pass he would do nothing, but hear the sound of basketball bounce and squeaking sneakers.
“Simula bata ako, five years old pa lang, mahilig na akong maglaro,” added Peñaverde. “Uuwi ako sa bahay, gabi na. Maghapon nasa kalye ako, maglalaro ng basketball.”
Peñaverde showed his scoring prowess, displaying an array of moves from slashing his way to the basket to shooting trey balls as he finished with 38 points on a 12-of-16 shooting from the field and led San Sebastian to a 71-69 win over San Rafael-Bulacan.
Coach Martin expected a tightly-fought encounter against a team Bulacan.
“Yung mga ganitong games, even yung mga provincial teams na nakakalaban namin, hindi namin tini-take lightly kasi nga every game sa amin magiging mahirap. Because this team is young, lack of experience pa talaga yung mga bata,” added Coach Martin.
Seeded No.2 in the tournament, San Sebastian moved on to the quarterfinal round of this tournament presented by SM Supermalls.
