Alday delivers as Bicol tabs eighth seeding

ANGELES—Fresh out of college seven years ago, Alwin Alday had his mind set on managing his family’s business—a hardware—in Tondo, Manila.

Alday did go on to work at the hardware, but he also played basketball a few times a week as a form of exercise and bonding with friends.

On weekends, he moved from one gym to another in Metro Manila, playing in high-level recreational leagues, while also traveling to different towns and cities in the country to play in pocket tournaments or “penalay” in local parlance.

When he was signed by the Quezon City Capitals in the first season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) two years ago, the former La Consolacion College varsity star had to change his lifestyle, eating habits and schedule as he juggled his day job and a fledgling basketball career.

The 5-foot-10 guard was, at best, a solid role player for the Capitals, who reached the playoffs in the first two seasons.

But a larger role was in the offing for Alday with the expansion team Bicol Volcanoes to start the season, and he did not hesitate to jump at the chance.

That move not only proved to be a boon for Alday, now considered as one of the league’s top shooting guards, but also for the Volcanoes, who punched their ticket to the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan season playoffs last Saturday at Angeles University Foundation Gym here.

Alday finished with 13 points, including a couple of big baskets down the stretch, as the Volcanoes stunned the General Santos City Warriors, 65-63, to seal the No. 8 seeding in the South division.

“Basketball is my passion and I’m just enjoying my journey,” said the 29-year-old Alday, who was actually drafted by Zark’s Burger in the PBA D-League in 2017 after starring in the burger chain’s team in recreational leagues. INQ