‘Basketball will never be the same’: NCAA players remember late Manlapaz

The beating of drums and the crowd’s cheers and jeers are usually the two most dominant sounds in any NCAA game.

But for years, the late Rolly Manlapaz still managed to drown all that out with his unforgettable voice.

Manlapaz’ booming vibrato was a staple of the NCAA until his untimely passing on Thursday, succumbing to his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The atmosphere Manlapaz brought to games was surely missed and Lyceum’s Topex Robinson and CJ Perez made sure to remember the jolly barker in the 113-79 annihilation of Arellano University.

“That’s why we will always honor this game of basketball because so many people gave their lives here,” said Robinson. “We honor it by giving our best and Rolly’s been here longer than I am. Prayers to his family and I hope his legacy stays.”

Aside from giving life to made baskets, infractions, timeouts, and substitutions among others, the fun-loving hype man also had a knack for giving nicknames.

The iconic barker was the one who gave nicknames to Ronal Tubid (The Saint), Alyssa Valdez (The Phenom), and Enrico Villanueva (The Raging Bull) but his most iconic one has to be Calvin Abueva’s The Beast during his time in San Sebastian.

It was also Manlapaz who christened Perez the “Baby Beast” nickname when the now Lyceum Pirate was just starting his collegiate career with the Stags.

“He was the one who gave me Baby Beast and it’s an honor that he was part of my career,” said Perez in Filipino. “I was just so happy that he gave me a moniker and in a way our dreams are being brought to life through him.”

“I just love the way he calls the games, sometimes he makes it spooky but basketball will never be the same and I’m sure he’ll be remembered not just by the NCAA but also of the whole basketball community,” said Robinson.

Robert Bolick experienced the late barker’s genius in both leagues, having been a benchwarmer for De La Salle in the UAAP and as a bonafide superstar with San Beda in the NCAA.

“He really pumps you up when you play and every time I do a Euro step I always look for him because he’ll immediately shout ‘dipsy do,’” said Bolick after San Beda’s 82-75 win over San Sebastian.

“With his passing, the games aren’t that fun anymore because when he calls your name it’s like you’re in the NBA.”

Bolick, a one-time UAAP champion with La Salle and two-time NCAA champion with the Red Lions, said Manlapaz already noticed him when he was a substitute for the Green Archers.

“Even though I was just sitting on Salle’s bench, he will call me and it almost made me conscious during warm ups,” said Bolick who had 18 points, four rebounds, and four assists. “I hope he’s in a better place right now.”