Happy Birthday, Paolo Mendoza ( Apr 22 )

Happy Birthday, Paolo Mendoza

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

2x PBA champion 2000 PBA Rookie Draft 1st overall pick 
2002 PBA Sportsmanship Awardee
1999 PBL Most Valuable Player 
UP Fighting Maroon

MAKE no mistake about it, but a junior cager from the University of the Philippines is the talk of the whole Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball action. His name is Paolo Mendoza, a 16old 6-0 hotshot of the State Uniyear versity who has been consistently burning the hoops and knocking the lights off at the Loyola Gym (Ateneo) where the games are held. Consider these: Prior to facing National University last Sunday, Mendoza scored a total of 155 points in four games or an average of 38.8 point per game, the highest in both the junior and senior division and in the entire history of the league. Aside from this, he is also the most-exposed player, having played a total 153 minutes, grabbed 35 rebounds, issued 29 assists, stolen the ball and blocked it twice. He is the only player in the history of the UAAP who has made a tripledouble and he has done it twice already. When UP lost to La Salle last July 31 (115-101), Paolo scored 45 points, had 14 rebounds and issued 10 assists in 39 minutes of action. And when UP routed Far Eastern University last July 17, Paolo had a high 47 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 40 minutes exposure. "This boy is phenomenal. Not even during the heydays of Allan Caidic had these stats been registered. He is a complete player and excels in all aspect of the game. He is a tremendous shooter and a good rebounder eyes are and passes the ball well. His very sharp in hitting the open man, and this is exceptional because he plays the off-guard position," said statistician Joe Concepcion who also compiles stats in the Philippine Basketball Association. "Definitely, we have a future superstar in Paolo. Given the proper guidance, breaks at kung hindi niya pababayaan ang kanyang sarili, he could make it to the national team and the PBA someday," added Concepcion. Concepcion made these remarks minutes before UP played NU. And Paolo proved to all and sundry that the statistician did not err in making flattering words for him as he scored 29 points, had 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds in leading his team past the opponents via a 101-90 thrashing. Born on Aprl 22, 1978, to Mr. Rudy Mendoza and the former Lolita de Villa, Paolo got hooked on the game as early as five years old where he joined the MILO Best Clinics, where he finished Level Five which is the highest. At MILO Best, he was named in the MILO Best national team twice where he saw action in the Las Vegas and Japan Championships. "Malalaki ang kalaban namin doon pero kahit hindi namin nakuha ang championship ay masaya kami dahil the tournament is more of friendship," Mendoza recalled. Together with elder brother John, Paolo powered their team UP to the championships of the MILO Best National Finals in the Paserrelle Division in 1991 beating Calasiao National High School of Pangasinan. Paolo's stint with the UP Juniors is only his second as he joined the team only last year. But he showed portents to come when he emerged as the top scorer in the UAAP Juniors averaging a high 29 points per game as a third year student. Now that he is in fourth year and last year as a junior dribbler, Paolo showed that he is even better than last year.  Paolo is on his way to stardom. When the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) called for tryouts for the 1995 Asian Youth basketball tournament which Manila will be hosting, there were around 120 players from all over the country who regthem. istered, Paolo among And after two weeks, the coaching staff trimmed the list to 18. Paolo easily made it. And chances are he could be a shoo-in to the team being only the natural shooter, a much needed arsenal if we are to face the giants of China, Japan and South Korea. Like other players, Paolo dreams of making it to the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and eventually to the PBA someday. But he wants to finish his studies first. "I want to become an engineer someday. Basketball is only temporary. At least kapag may natapos kang kurso ay mayroon kang life after basketball," Paolo reasoned out.