What's in a name?
Lebron Jhames Daep has made waves for his very interesting name. Named after LeBron James himself, the Junior Altas star said his father is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar just like he is, though he previously said he also admires Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"Actually fan ako ni LeBron," Daep said.
"Pero 'yung last year, nilo-look up ko si Giannis kasi parang grabe 'yung [performance] 'yung time niya."
[Actually, I'm a fan of LeBron. but last year, I was looking up to Giannis because he was so good at the time.]
LeBron James is among Daep's idols, including local stars Justin Brownlee and fellow Perpetualite Scottie Thompson.
"Marami akong idol nung bata pa lang ako, nasa Bicol pa lang ako. Kaya parang gusto kong maging tulad nila and marami akong ma-inspire na mga kabataan," Daep said.
[I have a lot of idols since I was a kid, since I was still in Bicol. I want to become like them and inspire a lot of young people.]
Despite being named after one of basketball's biggest stars, Daep said he did not feel the pressure to try basketball when he was young.
"Hindi naman po. Hinayaan lang talaga ako nina papa ko. Nung bata ako, hindi ako napilitan mag-basketball kasi Grade 1 hanggang Grade 3 parang chill lang ako sa buhay ko noon. Tapos nu'ng Grade 4, parang naka-shoot ako nun sa isang intramural sa amin. Doon na magsimula 'yung hilig ko sa basketball. Sabi ko, papa gusto ko magpaturo ng basketball. Tapos yun, parang natawa siya. Tapos walang pressure sa'kin," Daep said.
[Not really, my papa just let me be. When I was young, I wasn't pressured to play basketball. From Grade 1 to Grade 3, my life was just chill. Then Grade 4, I was able to shoot during our intramurals. That's where my love for basketball started. I told my father I wanted to learn basketball. He laughed. But there was no pressure on me.]
Even now when he is leading the Junior Altas in their bid for an NCAA juniors basketball title, Daep said he would rather give his best than give in to pressure.
"Wala naman po pressure kasi hanggat nag-e-enjoy ako sa ginagawa ko and binibigay ko 'yung best ko, as long na wala akong regrets sa lahat ng ginagawa ko, walang pressure sa'kin," the Perpetual high school veteran said.
[There's no pressure because as long as I enjoy what I'm doing and giving my best, as long as I don't have regrets about what I'm doing, there's no pressure on me.]
For Lebron, his name is his own and he will make his mark in his own ways.
"Kasi nagiging ako lang ako. Gusto ko lang maging 'yung sarili ko. Kung anong makakaya ko, 'yun yung ibibigay ko. Hindi ko kinukumpara sarili ko kung kanino man."
[I'm just being me. I just want to be me. What I'm able to give, that's what I'll give. I'm not going to compare myself to whomever.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
