http://www.uaapgames.com/che_102004.shtml
Earl, Ernesto, Earn - will the real UE Warrior please raise a hand?
An ordinary basketball fan would be confused. He watches the games on television and hear sportscasters call him Earl then player profile appears on screen and says he's Earn. Newspapers arrives the next morning and he's Earl again. Web search produces more results on Earl than on Earn and then finds one where he's Ernesto.
"Ewan, baka hindi ako 'yan," says Earn Saguindel, rookie point guard for the UE Red Warriors of being referred to as Earl and Ernesto.
He said that in jest, it was actually hard to read. Hard to believe it came from the guy who always look so serious on court. But yes, this one does know how to smile and make you laugh. He can be real funny when he's all pumped up and will crack you up at times without really meaning to.
The early years
Basketball came into his life literally at the age of four. His father gifted him with a basketball and first taught him the art of dribbling. Talk about starting him young. And from kiddie-sized balls to the regular-sized one, he soon learned to play the game and this lad from the Queen City of the South found himself hooked and basketball became a way of life. He played competitive basketball when he went to Cebu Eastern College for grade school and high school.
But college ball didn't come easy. The University of the East is actually Earn's fourth school. Playing ball not entirely the reason for the school-hopping, there was a host of other things. It was on his third stop--the University of San Jose-Recoletos where he finally got the chance to play college basketball. And as fate would have it, while playing in the Champion's League and the Sinulog Cup in Cebu, he caught the eye of then UE head coach Boysie Zamar and was asked to join the Red Warriors.
He admits to not having second thoughts since he had really planned of going to Manila to try his luck here even before Coach Boysie's invitation came. There was an earlier offer from another UAAP-member school which unfortunately didn't materialize and instead of sulking, he just went on and refused to be stopped in pursuing his dreams. The idea of being away from family is not very comforting but the UE offer is too great an opportunity to pass up.
From Cebu to Recto
So he flew to Manila, got settled at the Warriors' quarters, met the other guys in the team, enrolled as a Business Management major, warmed up to his new environment, made new friends, and missed Cebu and his family.
He found a spot in the school's Team B and first saw action as a UE Warrior at the Fr Martin's Cup last year.
Then Coach Boysie left and Dindo Pumaren got on board. Superstars gone, starters gone, Earn got elevated to Team A and found himself filling a very big void that is Paul Artadi.
The new-look Warriors faced the defending champion Far Eastern University Tamaraws on opening day of the 67th season of the UAAP. His baptism of fire was against Denok Miranda, one of the league's best point guards. FEU won that game by a big margin but the UAAP-first timer played more like the veteran than his real veteran teammates. He tallied 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 27 minutes of action.
In retrospect
"Sayang kasi 'di ko napanalo team," was Earn's generic response after every loss.
When asked if he could turn back time and be allowed to change anything, "Game against La Salle in the first round. Ang panget ng game ko no'n!" He scored 3 points along with 7 turnovers, he may have a point. "Buti na lang nanalo pero panget talaga, gusto kong balikan," he adds.
Embarrassing moments on court? "Wala namang sobra, 'yon lang mga layup misses. Especially against UP sa second round. Sure shot na tapos 'di pa na-shoot, 'kahiya!"
Basketball gods indeed have been good to the UE Warriors. They finished fourth with a rookie coach and an almost rookie lineup, Marcy Arellano is Rookie of the Year, and Coach Dindo shared Coach of the Year honors with champion coach-brother Franz Pumaren, as recognized by the UAAP Press Corps. As for Earn, he knows there are still a lot of things in his game that needs polishing and he promises to be better next season. He looks forward to going up against LA Tenorio and TY Tang again in season 68.
"Sayang... pero okay na ako, tanggap na. Sayang lang talaga. Pero that's life. Prepare na lang kami for next year. Learn from our mistakes...," says Earn in his text message to this writer two days after their Final Four game.
He may have failed to steer the team all the way to the finals but he definitely made his presence felt. Many doubted his capabilities at the start but he's proving to be an able replacement to his celebrated predecessor. UE fans concerned about the team's future are now giving him the thumbs up for passing his initiation. He may not be a big factor in offense but he certainly repaid the coach's confidence by playing big on defense. And he never failed to amaze fans with his boundless energy on court even the Energizer bunny would take a bow.
"I just like his intensity and tenacity. And the way he moves on the court is amusing," says Boom Gonzales of ABS-CBN Sports when asked why he seemed to really like seeing the guy play.
Fans at the Cuneta Astrodome close to the UE bench and those watching television will always remember him as the guy who cut Coach Dindo short in the middle of giving instructions during the last time out of the UE-FEU second round of eliminations game. It prompted Sev Sarmenta to say, "Can you see a future coach in Earn Saguindel?"
Does he actually believe he's got fans now? "Ha? Wala! Kung meron man, family ko siguro."
Moving on
There's not much pressure at practice now as they continue training for next season and for the other tournaments they are set to participate in. A typical day for him used to be practice/training in the morning, games, then going to class. Now that it's the school break, he's looking forward to a lot of sleeping, hanging out with his cousins, and of course, spending time with his family.
Fast facts
Favorite subject -- English (with a laugh) and Filipino (laughs again)
Least favorite subject -- Math (laughs even louder)
Favorite PBA players -- Mark Caguioa, Mike Cortez, Johnny Abarrientos and Willie Miller
Favorite NBA players -- Stephon Marbury, Baron Davies, Steve Francis and Mike Bibby
He's no great fan of big men obviously.
Favorite story from the quarters -- It involves teammate Marco Tabaquero, a ghost story but not of The Ring mold, more like Scary Movie 2.
We were in stitches after he's done telling the story.
Ideal girl -- "Cute, no, nothing really specific. Basta understanding."
Ideal date -- "One-on-one game. Tapos dinner, without changing clothes ha! Do'n na rin sa gym para masaya!"
You have been warned. The guy is a natural comic masquerading as a basketball star.
Who inspires you most? "Mama ko! Lahat-lahat 'to, ng ginagawa ko, para sa Mama ko."
Definitely an 'aww moment.' So let's call him by his given name, it's Earn. His mom would be real glad and proud.
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