How 'freak' accident helped San Sebastian's Calisaan become a better player

MANILA, Philippines – San Sebastian College's star center Michael Calisaan has no intentions of ever riding a motorcycle again.

Calisaan infamously suffered a motorcycle accident on May 22, 2016, during their town fiesta in Sta. Rita, Pampanga. He had no major injuries, but was visibly far from his best when he suited up for San Sebastian in NCAA Season 92.

Over a year later, Calisaan is fully recovered, and he is back to playing high-level basketball for the Golden Stags. On Tuesday, he put together a dominant 36-point effort to lead San Sebastian to the semifinals for the first time since 2013 with a 74-69 win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran in a knockout game at the Mall of Asia Arena.

"Talagang nag-focus lang po ako," Calisaan said after the game, wherein he also grabbed 10 rebounds and hit the dagger triple with 18 seconds left. "Tahimik po ako kanina sa dugout, iniisip ko po kung ano 'yung gagawin ko para manalo."

"Gustong-gusto ko po talaga manalo ngayon," he said. "Lalo na, birthday ni Coach Egay (Macaraya)."

• READ: Calisaan erupts for 36 as Baste enters Final Four again

Macaraya, who turned 56 on Tuesday, had nothing but words of praise for his 6-foot-3 center, whose motorcycle accident prevented him from playing well in Season 92, just one year after being named the Most Improved Player of the NCAA.

Indeed, the soft-spoken coach believes that it was Calisaan's "freak accident" that served as the turning point for the big man. It was that traumatizing experience that helped motivate Calisaan to be the player that he is now today.

"He understands already, how important his second life is," said Macaraya. "'Yung proseso is just to do the hard work, and alam ko na maganda ang pupuntahan niya."

Calisaan confirmed that his accident indeed had a major impact on him. "Mula noong na-aksidente ako, 'di na ako sumasakay ng motor," he reveals. "Tinaga ko 'yun sa sarili ko. Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi na ako sasakay ng motor."

"Pag binibiro ako ng mga tropa ko, 'Tara, motor tayo.' Sabi ko, 'Pre, 'di na ako sasakay ng motor.' Takot na takot na ako sumakay ng motor. Kahit 'di umaandar 'yan, 'di ko sinasakyan. May phobia ba 'yung tawag doon," he adds.

That accident is behind him now, however. Now, Calisaan is pouring his energies on playing basketball for San Sebastian, which is also a way for him to repay Macaraya – the coach who still trusted him even as he struggled in the wake of his accident.

"Mula noon kasi, tinulungan ako ni coach, lahat-lahat," said Calisaan. "Kaya lalo ako nagsikap."

"Tinulungan pa rin ako ni Coach Egay – sinali pa rin niya ako sa Café France, so unti-unti, naka-recover ako," he added. "Tapos noong first round ng NCAA, medyo wala pa 'yung laro ko, at medyo natatakot pa ako pag binabangga ako. Parang naaalala ko 'yung aksidente."

"Noong second round, medyo nakabawi na," he added.

On Tuesday against the Knights, everything came together for Calisaan and the Golden Stags. With a spot in the stepladder semifinals at stake, Calisaan proceeded to lift his team in the first three quarters, before getting help from longtime teammate Ryan Costelo in the end game.

Costelo scored nine of his 13 points in the final five minutes, then assisted on Calisaan's dagger three-pointer.

"These two guys are my veterans, so siguro naman pinakita nila sa laro na ito," a beaming Macaraya said after the game.

For Calisaan, the win over Letran is just the beginning. This is the first time in his NCAA career that he has made it to the Final 4, and he does not want it to be a short trip.

"Four years na kami magkasama ni Ryan (Costelo) sa college," he says. "Ngayon lang kami nakapasok ng Final 4. Paano pa pag nag-champion 'di ba?"

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