Former Xavier School standouts during the book launching of “Homegrown: A Celebration of Xavier Sports” last Monday, April 4 at the Angelo King Center inside Xavier School in San Juan. In photo are, from left, Jean Alabanza, Jerry Ngo, Eric Yao, Joseph Yeo, Jett Manuel, Jeron Teng, Kyles Lao, Jarrell Lim, Patrick Syquiatco, Chris Tiu, Alumni Association of Xavier School Vice President for Sports Oliver Gan, and co-host Eilieen Shi. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Chris Tiu, Joseph Yeo, and Jeron Teng have had their good share of unforgettable moments playing in the PBA. But before all that, they were all diamonds in the rough at Xavier School.
Their paths to national basketball stardom were among stories chronicled in the book “Homegrown: A Celebration of Xavier Sports” which was launched earlier this month.
“This is a great way to tell the stories of the past … and so that none of these are forgotten,” the reclusive Tiu told reporters during the event at the Angelo King Center in the school’s gym in San Juan City.
“This is very heartwarming, you know. Being grouped with successful Xavier people in terms of sports, I’m just happy being here,” said Teng, whose 104-point eruption against Grace Christian College back in 2011 was chronicled in the book.
“For me, this is a way to share what happened to my kids, A lot of these things have been just passed on or narrated. Now we have it in a form of a book,” added Tiu who is now with two daughters and fixated on improving on his golf swing.
“I think it’s a wonderful project that recognizes past athletes of Xavier School who have made it to the collegiate, national team, and professional levels. It’s a testament to the program of the school that has developed over the years,” Tiu added.
Teng’s older brother Jeric is also featured in the book and is joined by Yeo, who was teammates with Tiu in many editions of the Xavier Stallions before they duked it out in the UAAP.
The book also spotlights other Xavier products who went on to carve their paths in other sports, like Patrick Syquiatco (ice hockey), Jerry Ngo (football), and Daniel Go (wushu) among others.
Other noteworthy basketball players featured in the book are Isaac Go, Gab Banal, Jett Manuel, and Kyles Lao.
“Sport is one of the best ways to develop an individual because of the values that can be learned. That goes to show the priority of the school, it’s not just about the academics, but rather sports as an integral part of the priority,” said Tiu.
“It’s our way of saying thank you to Xavier School, and hopefully inspire the students now,” said Oliver Gan, a former junior golf champion who now serves as a consultant for the Games and Amusements Board and vice president for Sports in the Alumni Association of Xavier School.
The 354-page coffee table book was penned by Rick Olivares is available at the AAXS office. Xavier School president, Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, S.J., Mighty Sports boss Cesar Wongchuking, and AAXS presidents Reginald Yu and Ed Gatchalian also backed the project.