Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Wendell Comboy started his UAAP career with Far Eastern University in the best possible way winning the title in 2015 and now he’s looking add another title to his bag before he leaves college.
The Tamaraws’ steady guard will play the final games of his collegiate career and he started to prepare himself for the eventual exit even before the start of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament.
“I’ve been preparing myself even before the start of the season and what coach Olsen [Racela] told us is to always have that playoff mentality even during the elimination round,” said Comboy in Filipino Friday at FEU Diliman.
Comboy was a bench player for the Tamaraws in Season 78 when that team won the title against University of Santo Tomas with Mac Belo, Roger Pogoy, and Mike Tolomia handling the leadership positions.
Almost half a decade later, it’s now Comboy who’s taken the responsibility of being that mentor to his younger teammates.
Comboy said that there was a big change in him during his days as a rookie champion to a senior who’s now looking for a crack at the championship.
“When we won the title I was at the bench most of the time and I was there to support my kuyas,” said Comboy. “So now I’m applying what I’ve learned from them and teaching my younger teammates.”
Comboy added that with the eventuality of his collegiate exit, he knows that the next logical step is to apply for the PBA Draft, but that doesn’t distract him from his current duty as a senior Tamaraw.
The versatile guard said he’s more focused on playing every minute of the game and in a way put him on the scouts’ radar.
“It was always my dream to get drafted into the PBA but I’m not at all distracted,” said Comboy. “In fact, I play my hardest in the fourth quarter because this is my last year before I apply for the Draft.”