Basketball is in his genes

By Giovanni Paolo J. Yazon
Manila Standard
September 24, 2007

Basketball is a very physical sport, but for Sean Christopher Co, one of the sought-after players of the Mapua Cardinals—the basketball team of Mapua Institute of Technology in the National Collegiate Athletic Association—it’s more than that.

“It [basketball] is also a mental game: It’s all in your head. It’s only you who can decide what level or intensity you want to play at, and no one can take this away from you,” he begins. This 6-feet tall guard who wears jersey no. 16 adds: “It’s mental toughness that separates great cagers from average players. Believe in yourself. Whenever you are shooting [that ball], trust that it will go in, and it will have a better chance—always have that confidence!”

In “Sean Co Dictionary,” basketball, by the way, is defined as “a blend of hard work, patience and willingness to learn.”

A family of basketeers

Basketball is actually in Sean’s genes: His father, Sunny Co, played for the Great Taste team of the Philippine Basketball Association in the late ‘70s, while his mother, the former Julieta Que, was part of the RP women’s team in the Asian Youth Basketball in 1972. His parents are undoubtedly great, but today’s not their time anymore—so he really had to work hard to develop his full potential.

“My love for this game all began when my father enrolled me in a Milo Basketball Best Center Clinic [when I was in grade two]. Daddy’s always there to guide me whenever I play on court… he gave me a lot of advices and instilled in me the value of discipline.”

The key to a “fruitful shooting” according to him is to make an effort to improve every single day. “Play against players whom you think do it best—that’s how you will progress, watch a lot basketball shows, and never stop learning.”

Cardinal in the making

Sean first dreamt of becoming a UAAP player, and so after graduating from high school, at the Chiang Kai Shek College in Tondo, he tried out at the varsity teams of Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University. “But I was turned down by Ateneo; La Salle, meanwhile didn’t want to give me a full scholarship,” he sighs.

Instead of losing hope, he took those rejections as a challenge. “Nag-try naman ako sa mga NCAA member-schools. Nang mag-walk in ako sa Mapua, everything went very smoothly [I was accepted]. I think I was destined to become a Cardinal,” he says with a smile. Ateneo and La Salle’s loss is currently Mapua’s prized possession: Sean Co’s one of the good reasons why watch the NCAA games, on TV or live!

What sets him apart from the rest of the pack? “I’m resilient and energetic. Hyperactive ako kapag naglalaro sa court. I’m also good in motivating my teammates.” Speed dribbling in the open court and offensive rebounding are among his strong points. But he lists jumping as his Achilles’ heel. “Medyo mahina ang legs ko kaya hirap ako tumalon, so I do a lot of plyometrics to develop muscular power and generate a large amount of force quickly.” His basketball idols are Michael Jordan and Alvin Patrimonio, PBA’s four-time MVP and most notable Mapua Cardinal.

Off-court

Born on Dec. 30, 1985 in Manila, this one-fourth Chinese describes himself as someone disciplined, patient, and above all very down to earth—so he doesn’t deal with the idea being a celebrity in campus. “I’m just like the other [ordinary] students here [at Mapua]. Maybe the only difference is that I play basketball on the side.”

Sean usually wakes up at 6:30 a.m. “I attend the training from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Then I lift weights. Sa hapon nagsisimula ang pasok ko,” this industrial engineering junior says.

In his free time, Sean goes to a nearby mall to watch a movie, listens to the albums of his favorite performers like Usher, Nelly and Jay-Z, surfs the Internet or plays videogames. His favorite actors are Will Smith, Brad Pitt and Mark Wahlberg.

He doesn’t follow a strict diet, but watches what he eats. “I crave plates for steaks and seafoods often,” he smiles.

He envisions himself as a full-fledged PBA player 10 years from now. “Kahit sang team ako makuha, basta maka-penetrate. I think the little things I do will help my team—and it will already make a difference—every successful inbound pass, every rebound, every dive for a loose ball… will determine the outcome.”

His message to cager wannabes: “Always listen to the advices of older players and coaches—absorb everything they teach you. Lastly, bear in mind that the game isn’t over until you hear the buzzer!”