Rejected by La Salle in high school, Sean Manganti shows how far he’s come

Rejection has a way of making people better.

Take for instance the case of Adamson University forward Sean Manganti, who was technically a reject of De La Salle’s basketball program.

Manganti tried out for one of the high school teams under De La Salle’s educational system but he was cut off without even having met the head coach of the squad.

READ: From zero to hero: Sean Manganti redeems himself with game winner

This rejection has been a source of motivation for Manganti and seven years later he relishes being able to savor a win over La Salle.

Manganti led Adamson University to 57-50 win over the Green Archers in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball, which incidentally was also the first win of head coach Franz Pumaren over his former team.

“It was always in the back of my head, and I used that rejection as a motivation,” said Manganti, who had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

READ: UAAP: Pumaren, Adamson get back at La Salle 

The win pushed Adamson into a league-best 7-2 record and also gave Pumaren, who was a five-time UAAP champion with the Green Archers, his first win after seven losses against La Salle.

Pumaren was also happy with how Manganti responded to the team that rejected him almost a decade ago.

“Sean played pretty well, they rejected Sean and we developed him and that’s a testament to our program and that we know how to develop players,” said Pumaren.

READ: Adamson vows to get back at La Salle after painful loss 

Manganti, who had a family member bring him to La Salle for the tryout, said finally tasting a victory against the school that rejected him, and beat him five times before, was the end of a trial he carried for much of collegiate life.

“It’s like a culmination of your hard work and it finally took shape,” said Manganti who’s in his third season in the UAAP. “I’m on top of the world right now and I love it.”