CEBU, Philippines - Despite having played for only eight of 16 games in the just concluded 74th season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP), Christopher "Oping" Sumalinog is proud of being just a role player for the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, one of the league's elite teams to have achieved a rare four-peat.
The Blue Eagles swept the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in their best-of-three championship series capped by an 82-69 victory in Game 2 last September 29 at the Araneta Coliseum. Thus, Ateneo joined the University of the East, University of Sto. Tomas and De La Salle University among the teams to collect four titles in a row in UAAP history.
Sumalinog saw action for three out of four championships the Blue Eagles have accomplished and sat out for one season last year because of an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.
When asked whether he is happy or contented by simply sitting at the bench in some crucial games, Sumalinog unequivocally replied: "Coach Norman Black has a system and I had to follow what he wants because like a good soldier, he must obey the order of the general. I have no problem with my role and I don't complain of my playing time."
The 22-year-old Sumalinog is one of the three sons of former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers champion player Hermes Sumalinog, Sr. who have played and graduated in Manila.
Chris's older brother Michael "Micmic" played for the UST Growling Tigers and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). He is now in a real estate business.
His other brother Hermes "Kulot" Jr. was a former NCAA player for the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) Chirping Cardinals. He graduated with the degree of BS Psychology from MIT.
Oping himself is a graduate of Inter-Philosophy studies and will have his second major course in Art Management in Ateneo next year where he will be playing his last season in the UAAP.
Now in the pink of health, Oping promised to give his all-out best in his last stint with the Blue Eagles, who are gunning for a five-peat where no team has ever accomplished yet.
Sumalinog, wearing jersey number 17, is a typical example of a player with a sound mind and a sound body. He is a Dean's Lister in Ateneo. (FREEMAN)