Kamustahan with former UAAP MVP Dylan Ababou

  • last year
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Transcript
00:00 "Dylan is injured again, let's trade him."
00:02 While I was trading, I would go to other teams, share gospel,
00:05 then I would get injured again, I would get traded again.
00:07 So it's like that, literally, I became a missionary, I became a journeyman.
00:11 As a family, sometimes we are redirected to other paths to pursue other careers.
00:25 But that doesn't mean that we are lost.
00:28 Rather, we are diverted to a greater and bigger calling.
00:32 And today, we are going to talk about that,
00:34 with none other than Dylan Ababu.
00:37 How is life recently for you?
00:38 I have four jobs right now.
00:41 Four jobs, that's a lot.
00:43 Two of them are about basketball.
00:45 I did my own basketball skills training and player development.
00:50 So, any ages, any levels, any genders.
00:54 I coach at Tolario Union School.
00:57 It's a high school, so I assist and coach varsity girls.
01:01 PE teaching, marketing for physical therapy, home health, wheelchairs, scooters, and so on.
01:09 Where are you now in the US and when did you move there?
01:14 Last year only.
01:15 September 2022, LA, then October, I moved here to Tulare, California.
01:21 My whole family has been in America ever since.
01:25 I'm only in the Philippines because of basketball.
01:27 That's why I was left behind.
01:28 You are doing four jobs at the same time.
01:31 And then, while you were in the Philippines,
01:32 can you tell us about the different teams you played for?
01:39 When I was in fourth year high school, I tried out for the RP Youth National Team.
01:43 Now, they call it Batang DILAS.
01:46 Jerby Cruz was already in the US team.
01:47 Chester Naylor, Francis Aliana, Mark Canlas.
01:50 They said, along with Daryl Bautista, who was also in the youth team,
01:53 they said, "Join us in the US team. We'll be together."
01:56 - I was in the national team. - They pulled you.
01:59 Yes, they pulled me.
02:00 I went to the US team in 2005.
02:03 I was also in the PBL teams, Harbor Center,
02:06 which is now Northport in the PBA.
02:08 It's now Magnolia in the PBA.
02:10 Boss Manny Pangilinan was in the men's national team.
02:14 I was in the team from 2008 to 2011.
02:18 After 2011, I was drafted in the PBA, Baraco Bowl.
02:22 After a few months, I was drafted in the Hinebra.
02:24 I played there for three and a half years.
02:26 I went back to Baraco Bowl, I was transferred to Tocintex,
02:29 I was transferred to Blackwater, I was transferred to Globalport,
02:32 I was transferred to Phoenix.
02:33 I went to KIA, I went to Northport in Glet,
02:36 I went to Chooks to go 3-on-3.
02:38 After that, the team was supposed to be Platinum Karaoke.
02:42 But for 10 days, I prepared for one year for the PBA Tricks,
02:46 not for Platinum Karaoke.
02:47 Then 10 days before the opening, my Achilles tendon was cut.
02:50 My Achilles tendon was ruptured.
02:53 It was a long time, a year of rehab.
02:55 But when my Achilles tendon was ruptured,
02:57 I decided to retire from basketball.
02:59 After one year, in September, I came here.
03:02 Because I'm already retired, I won't play anymore.
03:05 The time that you had to step back from the game
03:08 because of the injury, how did that change?
03:12 Not just your career, because you said you retired,
03:14 but your perspective in life.
03:16 When my Achilles tendon was ruptured,
03:20 I knew right away that it was a sign from the Lord
03:23 that I needed to stop playing basketball
03:24 and focus on mentoring and coaching.
03:27 It's a good thing that it was just one year.
03:28 You'll be forced to stop playing.
03:30 So it was a clear sign, and I accepted what happened.
03:34 I knew that I was being diverted,
03:36 like you said earlier, to a different path.
03:38 When you thought that it was a sign to stop,
03:42 how challenging was it?
03:43 How was the process of accepting that?
03:45 The process of accepting that you'll be playing basketball
03:47 for almost your entire life.
03:50 I sacrificed and devoted time to prepare for the tournament.
03:53 Then, as soon as I felt that I was in shape,
03:58 I felt that I was ready.
03:59 That's when I got injured, so that happened many times.
04:01 The Lord also told me to relax, but I was too focused.
04:05 I don't have any regrets because
04:07 I gave my best since I was young.
04:09 I left everything on the floor.
04:11 I didn't hold back, I didn't save energy,
04:14 I really all-out.
04:15 So now, I feel like I'm okay.
04:17 I gave my all.
04:18 That's my only faith in basketball.
04:20 I won't reach that.
04:21 I had a lot of injuries, so I won't be able to achieve that.
04:23 I'm okay. I'm okay to leave.
04:25 Through the years, you have been moving
04:27 from one team to another,
04:29 from one place to another,
04:30 but at the same time, you're making progress.
04:33 Not only are you moving, but you're also making progress in life.
04:36 How has that helped you to become the person you are right now?
04:39 About moving,
04:41 I remember Dr. Andy Howe told me,
04:44 "The joy of man."
04:45 I really go to a lot of places.
04:47 Well, personally,
04:48 I also became a missionary.
04:50 Because in every team I went to,
04:53 we set up Bible study groups.
04:55 Of course, with the help of Brother J.J. Helterbrand,
04:57 of course, Kirby Ray Mundo,
04:59 they were the ones who shared the Bible with me.
05:01 They were Kelly Williams,
05:02 Larry Fonashere,
05:03 Brother Doug Kramer,
05:05 Dylan was injured again.
05:06 We traded him.
05:07 While I was getting traded,
05:08 I would go to other teams,
05:09 share the gospel,
05:10 and I would get injured again,
05:12 and I would get traded again.
05:13 So, it's like that. I literally became a missionary.
05:15 It became a joy.
05:16 For someone who has been frequently traded,
05:19 who moved from one place to another,
05:21 how do you find the sense of belongingness?
05:24 I'm very grateful because
05:26 my teammates in the PBA,
05:29 the ones I was with in college,
05:30 my coaches in the PBA,
05:32 the ones I was a coach with in the amateur or national team,
05:36 we had reunions.
05:38 So, it helped.
05:39 For me, it was not an issue finding the sense of belongingness.
05:42 I had social belongingness.
05:44 But right now, Dylan,
05:45 how would you describe for you what home is?
05:47 For me,
05:48 our identity is Jesus Christ.
05:51 We are all in Christ.
05:52 That's our identity.
05:53 If I were to connect it to home,
05:54 the definition of true home is
05:56 when you are with your fellow believers.
05:58 So, wherever you are,
05:59 it's not limited to a house,
06:01 a team,
06:02 an establishment,
06:03 or an office.
06:05 No, wherever you are,
06:06 you're with your fellow believers,
06:08 your family,
06:10 your loved ones.
06:11 That's home.
06:11 I have heard different definitions of home,
06:15 but that was one of the greatest definitions.
06:17 Thank you.
06:18 That's from God.
06:19 I really appreciate this interview.
06:21 I hope you can help and inspire more people.
06:25 Alright, thank you so much again, Sir Dylan.
06:27 I hope to see you soon.
06:28 I hope your mentoring career in the US will flourish.
06:32 Thank you very much.
06:33 And of course, more blessings to you,
06:35 Marie's, and the whole family.
06:36 (upbeat music)
06:41 (upbeat music)
06:46 (upbeat music)
06:51 (upbeat music)

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