Romwel Anzures

Mapua University’s Chris Hubilla in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball Finals. Photo from NCAA Philippines.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733821868270IMG_5879.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Mapua University’s Chris Hubilla in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball Finals. Photo from NCAA Philippines."/>Mapua University’s Chris Hubilla in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball Finals. Photo from NCAA Philippines.MANILA — Chris Hubilla was one of Mapua University’s pillars in its run to the NCAA Season 100 men&#x27;s basketball championship.</div>The 6-foot-4, Sorsogon native battled with College of Saint Benilde’s bruising big men including the 6-foot-7, centennial season MVP Allen Liwag, with Hubilla putting up 12 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1.5 assists in their sweep of the Blazers.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2024/12/7/mapua-completes-sweep-of-st-benilde-to-clinch-season-100-championship-1652" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Mapua completes sweep of St. Benilde to clinch Season 100 championship</a></div>However, even if he already had to bang bodies against a frontline that was taller both on the floor and on paper, this was not the first time that the 21-year-old had to hurdle through problems that were way above him, not even the toughest.“Grabe yung mga naranasan ko nung bata ako,” shared Hubilla, who dealt with the loss of his mother at an early age in addition to other struggles, following their 94-82 victory against CSB on Saturday.“Kaya ayaw ko nang iparanas sa pamilya ko yun, Ngayon, ‘di na kami nangungupahan, ‘di na kami natutulog ng walang kuryente at may bahay na kami,” he added.Hubilla focused on doing what was best for himself in his younger years, especially since he had to do things on his own.Despite his talent in basketball, the former San Beda High School star previously refused to leave Sorsogon for better opportunities as his priority was providing and looking out for his welfare.“Nung una pa lang, wala naman talaga akong balak mag Maynila eh,” he revealed. “Marami nang kumukuha sa akin, pero ayaw ko kasi walang-wala kami. ‘Di ko alam saan ako pupulutin sa Maynila pag pumunta ako.”“Pero may mga nag-push sa akin, kaya pag tapos ng pandemic, nag NBL Under-19 ako tapos nakilala ako ni Coach Manu [Inigo] sa San Beda.”Inigo, who is now with the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, paved the way for Hubilla to enter the NCAA juniors’ squad of San Beda. He then made a name for himself as a Grade 11 student for the Miko Roldan-led Red Cubs in Season 98.Unfortunately, heartbreak still haunted him in the grand-old league.Hubilla made some noise in the high school scene in his first and only year with the Red Cubs — one that was highlighted by a Mythical Team citation — but they met their demise in the Final 4 stepladder and were booted out by Benilde’s juniors’ team, the La Salle Green Hills Greenies.“Sabi ko uuwi na ako ng probinsya kasi na-lugmok na talaga ako,” he admitted. “Bata pa lang ako, pangarap ko nang makatungtong ng Finals. Tapos juniors pa lang, iniyak ko na ng sobra kasi masakit talaga, yung [LSGH] kalaban namin.”Even with the loss, Hubilla still received good news immediately as he was recruited by the University of the Philippines (UP) to play for the Fighting Maroons despite still having to complete his senior high studies.However, even before he got to step foot on the UAAP floor for State U, Hubilla left UP for Colegio de San Juan de Letran.But that move did not last for too long either.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/2/10/up-bound-hubilla-has-change-of-heart-commits-to-letran-sources-2104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: UP-bound Hubilla has change of heart, commits to Letran</a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/09/23/uaap-up-adds-chris-hubilla-to-recruiting-class" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: UP adds Chris Hubilla to recruiting class</a></div>“Pinagsarahan ako ng pintuan sa Letran, pinagsarahan ako ng pintuan sa UP, so siguro, ito yung plano para sa akin ni Lord,” explained Hubilla on his short stay on those institutions.As for God’s plan for him that he was talking about? It was still in Intramuros, but not with the Knights. Rather, it was with the redemption-seeking Cardinals, who were coming off a three-game Finals loss versus the Red Lions in Season 99.“Muntik na akong sumuko, pero dahil kay Lord talaga lahat ‘to,” he said. “Nung una, pinasa-Diyos ko lang talaga. Sabi ko Siya na yung bahala, at sinunod ko lang yung desire ng puso ko at ng family ko. Tinrabaho ko ‘to, at ‘di ako nagpahinga nung off-season.After committing to play for the Randy Alcantara-coached, Clint Escamis-starred Mapua team, Hubilla did his best for them and even won both the Rookie of the Year and Freshman of the Year plums, the top individual awards for first-year NCAA players in the seniors level.<div>“Binalikan ko lang kung saan ako galing, Yung mga video na umiiyak ako, binabalikan ko yun gabi-gabi at sabi ko ayoko nang [maulit] yun, kaya ito ngayon, champion na kami.” <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733821936047IMG_5880.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Mapua University’s Chris Hubilla in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball Finals. Photo from NCAA Philippines."/>Mapua University’s Chris Hubilla in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament. Photo from NCAA Philippines.He posted 12.89 points, 6.33 rebounds, and 1.78 assists in 18 games in the eliminations, and then went on to provide maturity and stability for the Cardinals against the Blazers to complete their respective redemption stories.</div>“Ito yung pagkakataon na makabawi yung Mapua, and at the same time, napasama ako after ‘di nila nakuha last year,” Hubilla said. “Pinanghinaan ako dahil sa mga nag-bash sa akin, na palipat-lipat ako, pero dahil talaga kay Lord ‘to eh, kung nasan man ako ngayon.”But above all, these performances, according to Chris, were simply his way of repaying how he was embraced by Mapua when he was lost and needed it the most.“Sobrang happy ko kasi yung Mapua, tinulungan yung family ko,” he said . “At mula nung dumating ako sa Mapua, ginawa nila akong family. ’Di nila ako pinagkaisahan kahit rookie ako.”<div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABRif9RhdrAYhdAg&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script>

Chris Hubilla was one of Mapua University’s pillars in its NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball championship run.

Chris Hubilla was one of Mapua University’s pillars in its NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball championship run.

NCAA: Journeyman Chris Hubilla finds a home -- and a championship -- in Mapua

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NCAA: Journeyman Chris Hubilla finds a home -- and a championship -- in Mapua

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 10, 2024 06:19 PM PHT

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