When Kobe Monje looks back on his collegiate run with Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the future, it won't just be about the times they were winning and on top.
It would also be of the times when he had to work from the ground up, of the losses and the heartbreaks.
The graduating Monje formally concluded his up-and-down college run with the Knights, which spanned three years that saw him win one championship in his first year but didn't even make the Final Four in his last two.
But the wild ride was all worth it for Monje after having taken the risk of switching from one sport to another.
"Parang roller coaster siya talaga kasi sa totoo lang, nag-start ako ng college ko sa track and field talaga ako e, kasi parang hindi ako tinanggap nu’ng papasok ng college [sa basketball]," an emotional Monje said.
"So tinrabaho ko talaga. Masakit talaga para sa akin kasi sobrang dami kong pinagdaanan."
[It's like a roller coaster because in truth, when I started college I was in track and field because I was not accepted when I tried to get in basketball. So I had to work for it. This hurts for me because I had to go through so much.]
Monje played two sports in high school, competing in track and field in high jump and long jump while also playing basketball. In college, he continued training in track and field, but wanted to join the school's seniors basketball team.
He tried with the Knights when Jeff Napa was still calling the shots for the squad. Unfortunately, Monje didn't make the cut. But that didn't stop the fighter in him, grinding it out day in and day out just to make the roster.
Monje did make the squad, but was in Team B for three years before he was officially fielded back in Season 98, where he helped the Knights capture the third of their three-peat feat.
"After ng training namin sa track and field sa umaga, nag-e-extra ako tapos tuloy-tuloy lang hanggang sa na-lineup ako," Monje added.
"Gusto ko pa rin ituloy ‘yung career ko sa basketball. Para makapasok ako sa team, pinaghirapan ko talaga kasi sobrang payat ko dati."
[After our morning training for track and field, I'd do extra and then kept going until I was able to make the lineup. I always wanted to continue with a career in basketball. To make the team, I had to work really hard because I used to be really thin.]
But the next two years proved challenging for him and the Knights, suffering a dismal 2-16 record in Season 99 and a much-improved 8-10 card in Season 100, though they failed to make the Final Four for the second straight year.
Monje admitted he may not have been able to shown all he had in his final year, but he beams with confidence that Letran is in good hands with the holdovers and coach Allen Ricardo.
"Itong final year ko siguro hindi ko rin nabigay ‘yung best ko, aaminin ko ‘yun pero alam ko naman na ‘yung final year ito ‘yung pinakamasaya para sa akin kahit hindi ko nabigay ‘yung best ko," he said.
"Parang hindi pa nagsi-sink in sa utak ko na huling laro ko na ‘to na kasama mga teamates ko. Masaya na malungkot."
[This final year, I think I wasn't able to give my best. I'll admit that but I know this final year was the happiest for me even if that's the case... It hasn't sunk in that this is my last game with my teammates. I'm happy but also sad.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
