Happy Birthday, Ronald Tubid ( Oct 15 )

Happy Birthday, Ronald Tubid

“The Fearless”
2003 PBA Rookie Draft 16th overall pick
6-PBA team player
15-season PBA veteran
9x PBA champion
2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals co-MVP
2009 PBA All-Defensive Team member

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

RONALD TUBID is just like into basketball, any other guy of his age enjoying his game, enjoying his life. At 21, he is about to start a career he has long been aching for. At 21, he is already a professional and a certified member of the millionaire's club with the big leap to the country's premier basketball league the Philippine Basketball Association(PBA). Tubid, who at the start of the 2003 PBA season would be wearing the Pilipinas Shell colors, signed a three-year contract with the Turbochargers and is already upbeat on his coming debut in the Big Man's game. Whatever worries he had, it immediately evaporated, the first time he showed up for practice. There were no superstar airs nor were there any attempts to make the rookies feel inferior as the newbies were warmly welcomed. "Okay ang atmosphere, even Benjie Paras treated us well. Hindi kami nailang, kasi 'yung ibang players dun nakalaro ko na. Tapos yung iba, kumpare ko pa," said Tubid. The former University of the East stalwart disclosed that he felt at ease with his teammates so much that he is already comfortable joking around with them. nga, "Si Benjie binansagan na akong Wency Cornejo eh," he smiled. Though he admits that the PBA brandishes a different kind of ballgame, the flashy guard noted that it won't take a lot of adjustments on his part as he is more than willing to accept the kind of changes in his chosen profession. "Pareho lang naman din siya sa PBL eh, (dito) nga lang mas maraming banggaan," Tubid said. "Kailangang mag-adjust, kasi baka mag-point guard din ako. Kaya ko naman, basta tuloy-tuloy lang ang praktis, ang focus para masanay." Hardwork and dedication, these he takes to the heart as was visibly seen when he was still playing in the amateurs, first for ANA Freezers and then for Welcoat Paints where he played a major role in its recent title conquest. His daredevil swipes and gravity-defying antics are in stark contrast to his immaculate monicker "The Saint," a nickname earned after he was made model of the beatified martyr Pedro Calungsod, owing to his remarkable resemblance to the saint. Fast-gaining popularity and a career in bloom, who would have thought that with his skills, the indefatigable dribbler nearly failed to make it to his present state after losing heart in his first attempt in basketball. "Na-frustrate ako noon nang hindi ako nakuha sa Palarong Pambansa (1998). Tapos lumuwas naman ako ng Manila, bitbit 'yung referral letter ko galing kay Felix Flores Sr. para kay coach Jimmy Mariano. Natanggap naman ako, pero nahomesick ako, kaya umuwi din ako," reminisced Tubid. Homesickness biting hard on his heart, Tubid boarded the next ship for Iloilo, but he was called back to duty just in time for the Fr. Martin Cup, after which he became one of the Warriors regular lineup. The rest, as they say, is history. When he enlisted for this year's edition of the PBA Annual Rookie Draft, it must have been enough challenge. To show up on the day itself and join the rest of the aspirants in the isolation booth was torture enough, but Tubid recalled otherwise. "Nung andun kami sa loob ng booth, nagkukulitan pa kami. Nung mag-umpisa na ang tawagan sa first round, okay pa ang feeling. Pero nung matapos na ang first round at hindi pa ako natatawag, medyo kinabahan na ako, tapos natakot," he recalled, shaking his his head. Everything became a blur afterwards when he was called forward to join his new team, his new home. "Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Si Chris Jackson nga eh, ikinuwento ko pa sa kanya na binigyan niya ako ng jersey nung nasa Sta. Lucia pa siya, minsang nag-out-oftown game sila sa Dipolog," he recounted.