Lorenz Capulong has been a revelation in NCAA Season 99, putting up veteran-like numbers in just his first year for the rebuilding Arellano University squad.
Although the Chiefs got into a mischief after a gloomy 2-15 record so far, the 6-foot-6 gentle giant said he believes the future is bright for the team as he looks to bring the school on top just like what his idol Shaquille O'Neal did for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat in the NBA.
"Siguro ngayon naiintindihan ko [bakit ganito] pa kasi bago pa lang kami, mga bata pa. Pero magfo-focus pa kami next year," Capulong told GMA News Online in an interview on Sunday.
"Si Shaq [ang idol ko] dahil sa kakayahan niya na kahit malaki siya, nakakapag-dunk siya [at] mabilis gumalaw din."
(I understand what happened now because we're still new and young, but we'll still focus next year. Shaq is my idol because of his skills. Despite his big size, he can dunk and he moves quickly.)
It was fate that brought Capulong to Dr. Concepcion Aguila St., Sampaloc, Manila.
A native of Pampanga, Capulong tried his luck in Manila and landed in Adamson University in 2018 where he would play for a year in the high school program. The young bruiser would then earn a spot in the Soaring Falcons' collegiate roster before seeing action in UAAP Season 82 under head coach Franz Pumaren.
However, Capulong was only fielded once and logged just three rebounds as Adamson relied more on foreign student-athlete Lenda Duoanga during that stretch.
It was then he decided to look for greener pastures and found himself in Arellano a year after where he was listed as a reserve player in NCAA Season 97 under former coach Cholo Martin.
Alas, he didn't get a roster spot immediately with the Chiefs as they still had former Rookie of the Year Justin Arana and big man Gelo Sablan in its lineup at the time. He also didn't get the call-up from Martin the following season, forcing him to suit up for the Pampanga squad in MPBL.
When he heard that a familiar face in Chico Manabat would call the shots for the Chiefs, he decided to try his luck anew.
"Bago mag-pandemic, niyaya ako ni (Aaron) Fermin, ‘yung kasama ko sa Adamson tapos nung bubble na-reserve ako sa Arellano," the 23-year-old Capulong shared, adding that he seized the opportunity to play in the all-Filipino collegiate league.
"Pumasyal kami ni Fermin, nagbabalak kami na lumipat kaming dalawa doon bago mag-pandemic so hanggang sa bubble, pinatawag ako tapos lumipat na ako."
(Before the pandemic, Aaron Fermin from Adamson invited me then I became a reserve player in Arellano during the bubble season. Fermin and I checked out, we were thinking of transferring before the pandemic so it was until the bubble that I received a call-up then I transferred.)
That decision is proving to be a huge turnaround in Capulong's young career.
Currently the top player for Arellano, he is dropping team-highs of 11.53 points and 7.82 rebounds alongside 1.18 assists and 1.12 blocks.
While Arellano sits at the cellar of the team standings, Capulong said he and the rest of the Chiefs are already looking forward to next season.
His impressive showing so far even got him a seal of approval from Arana, who was recently crowned as the PBA Rookie of the Year after leading Converge in his first year.
"Sobrang natuwa ako sa kanya kasi before, reserve siya sa amin nung last year ko. Naabutan ko siya pero reserve siya no’n pero ngayon nakita ko na sobrang laki ng improvement niya and syempre may shooting na rin siya," Arana shared.
"Masaya ako para sa kanya and sana ‘wag siyang makuntento kung anong meron siya ngayon. Kailangan lagi kang student ng basketball so dapat lagi kang willing matuto."
(I was very happy for him because he was part of our reserves list during my last year. Now, I can see his improvement and he has shooting already. I am happy for him and I hope he does not settle for whatever he has now. He has to be a student of basketball always so he should be willing to learn.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
