Enrico Villanueva: Blue & Bullish

Last October, former King Eagle Enrico Villanueva sent Ateneans into ecstasy when he led the Blue Eagles in its defeat of arch rival the Green Archers of De La Salle. The gratitude for the win was directly proportional to the crowd’s desire for it. Supporters had four years to dream of nothing but that victory. In fact, right after came a series of TV guestings that had him singing in one show and doing comedy in another. Then, there was that Bench Gel endorsement that Enrico handpicked from a number of other commercial offers. The best reward, of course, was living out his wildest dreams as a PBA player.

The professional ball player has spent only two months of his 22 years in the national limelight. Things moved pretty quickly. One day he was a King Eagle; the next, he was a Rookie Bull (for the Philippine Basketball Association’s Red Bulls team).

"Thank God!" blurts a candid Enrico upon hearing this interview cares little about basketball. It takes no more than five minutes to determine that the word "shy" doesn’t accurately describe all six-feet-five-inches of Enrico Villanueva. Red Bull teammates Junthy Valenzuela and Lordy Tugade insist he is makulit, so makulit in fact that the two PBA veterans have nearly forgotten he is only a rookie.

"Pag kumakain kami, hahagisan kami ng buto ng chicken o kaya mambabasa ng tubig. Okay naman kasi masaya siyang kasama. Ilang buwan pa lang siya sa team pero akala mo ang tagal na niya. Hindi siya tulad ng ibang rookie na nahihiya pa sa simula. Ako nga noon, tahimik lang ako. Pero si Rico ang kulit agad. Nakakatuwa naman yung bata," says Lordy who seems more like the usual PBA player–soft spoken in person but aggressive on the hard court.

Junthy adds that Enrico’s easy-going nature made the transition from the UAAP court to playing with the big boys a lot smoother. Actually, it cancelled out what could’ve been a displeasing initiation. "Cowboy naman yung bata eh. Hindi siya pwedeng sososyal-sosyal dito. Kawawa siya sa amin."

Chances are slim that he would’ve intimidated his teammates anyway. Though a true-blue Atenean from grade school to college, Enrico was no pampered rich kid. He learned to take public transportation as a young boy–mastering the art of hanging on to the railings of a moving jeepney. That became more difficult as the years passed; by the time he was a high school freshman, Enrico was already six feet tall. The only time he detested his height was when he had to squeeze into a packed PUJ.

"I wouldn’t say that our family was materially blessed," he clarifies. "When I was a kid, I didn’t get everything I wanted. I wasn’t pampered with luxuries. I had to beg to get a bike of my own. But I think it worked to my advantage because, at a young age, I learned how to go around the city by myself.

"And I learned to love physical games because I didn’t have so many toys to play with at home. So I was always out in the streets playing with other kids. When I was younger, I shared a room with some of my sisters because we didn’t live in a big house. That’s why I’m very close and very protective of them."

No one can tell (even on the testosterone-filled hard court) that Enrico is the youngest of six siblings. What’s more is that this basketball hero is also baby brother to five sisters. "All of them (Karen, Melissa, Kristine, Meg and Kate) are now based in the States so I’m the only one still living with our parents."

How was it like growing up with so many sisters? "Different, I guess," he says. "I learned how to play Chinese garter and jackstones which only girls play. Of course, I didn’t play with their dolls. With male playmates, I played mostly physical games like agawan base. Eventually, without knowing it, that helped develop my skills in basketball."

Basketball may have been in his future, but what really prepared him for the big time was going on all fours to scrub the bathroom floor. After all, nothing busts the ego more than doing housework. In the Villanueva home, everyone (even the baby) had to do chores. "Yeah, marunong akong maglinis ng bathroom, mag-iron ng clothes and maglaba sa washing machine. All of us kids had to do our share because we didn’t have a maid. My sisters did other things like clean the rooms and wash dishes. I was asked to clean the bathroom ’cause you need force to scrub floors. I also took out the garbage. But, looking back, I can say I enjoyed doing that. I’m even learning now to cook simple dishes like sinigang for my future family and my future wife."

The thought of Enrico doing all types of housework can be amusing. The only thing that seems second nature to him is cooking. Ask anyone who has been with him longer than an hour: Eating is his passion.

"Mahilig kumain ’yun. Kung magyaya man siya lumabas after practice, parating sa kainan," Junthy confirms.

Enrico’s appetite does not fall short of his bulk. A great meal to him includes a slab of steak (medium rare) as main course. "Do I like junk food? Siguro chips lang. Yung may salsa and cheese dip. You mix it and you put it in the microwave."

When asked about his relationship with his mom, Enrico admits he is spoiled. He feels most pampered when she slaves over his favorite dishes like kare-kare. "Magaling magluto ang mom ko eh," he explains.

That’s not the only thing she is good at. Her son swears that aside from being his chief chef, she is also his prayer warrior. During every game, whether she is seated in the bleachers or somewhere else, his mom is knocking on heaven’s door for assistance.

"She belongs to Our Lord’s Flock. I also used to be an active member but I’m no longer as active. Yes, you could say I’m quite spiritual. I am a God-fearing person," he admits.

Enrico’s voice turns serious when he speaks of God and family. He swears by his parents’ support of his athletic career. Even his sisters, who live an ocean away, keep tabs on his games via the internet and the Filipino Channel. In fact, they were among the first to congratulate him for that UAAP victory. Before being drafted by the Red Bulls, Enrico went on a much-needed vacation in the US, the first time he ever visited his sisters.

Yes, I am usually a funny person," he agrees when told that there are those who say he is a natural comedian. "But I can be serious when I have to be."

The switch from happy-go-lucky to down-right serious was seen in his performance in school. Enrico confesses that he was a so-so student in high school. However, he did better in college. "Of course I didn’t get special treatment in school because I was doing well in basketball," he stresses. "I did well in theology and history. But I was an average student in math. Among all my classes, I enjoyed psychology since we had a lot of activities such as immersion at an urban poor community in Mandaluyong. We stayed overnight in the homes of the families there. It was a nice experience. Actually, I took up Interdisciplinary Studies (is) which is a combination of communication and psychology. My original course was Developmental Studies but I felt is was more flexible."

While he dreamed of playing pro basketball someday, he worked on a fall back just in case the PBA proved unreachable. He was to finish his studies, land a job in media (radio or TV) and eventually put up his own business (unsurpri-singly a restaurant). There were also thoughts of joining his sisters in the States where he could first seek employment and then earn enough money to put up a business. But his UAAP performance changed all that.

"No one expected me to be in the PBA, especially my folks. When I was in grade school, I was part of the varsity team but I was a bench player so I never played a single set. Seriously, it wasn’t the money that mattered to me," he swears, adding that it wasn’t the P8.1 million salary in the three-year contract that impressed him the most. "It was always my dream to become a PBA player. That was what gave me the drive. So I didn’t consider myself a PBA player right after I signed the contract. Even when I was already joining the practices of Red Bull, I felt I didn’t reach my goal yet. It was only when I played at the PBA that I felt I was already a professional basketball player."

Since athletes have a limited shelf life (skill, endurance, health and age being major factors in one’s survival), Enrico is still keen on becoming an entrepreneur. After all, there is life after basketball.

But just how worthwhile would life be without it? "Without basketball, I’d just be this tall guy," he says in perfect comic timing, waiting for his one-member audience to laugh before continuing. "Now, at least when they see me they know I’m from Red Bull."

The stares seem friendlier now since people already know his name. Even before he became UAAP’s Most Valuable Player, Enrico was already used to getting attention from strangers because of his height. There have been times he would shout "I’m 6’ 5"!" in answer to whispered questions asked of everyone but him.

Being around PBA players, some taller than him, makes it less uncomfortable living in a country where the average height is an entire foot less than the air he breathes. "When I was a teenager, I got used to sleeping in a small bed because we couldn’t find one that was long enough for me," Enrico answers, a bit puzzled at the interest. "I now make do with a queen-sized bed since a king wouldn’t fit in my room. Like I said earlier, our house isn’t that big."

He orders his shoes via internet. Clothes aren’t that much trouble thanks to Bench which supplies him with shirts. If plans push through, he may be endorsing athletic shoes very soon.

Commercial modeling comes easily. Height and good looks run in the family. Enrico’s maternal aunt, Evangeline Pascual, nearly bagged the Miss World crown some years back. Of late, she has been starring in TV shows and movies.

Basketball is just a stepping stone for me," Enrico says, fully aware of the doors open to him now. "Given the opportunity, I’d go into showbiz but not at this time. I was actually offered by ABS-CBN to do a sitcom but I felt I needed time to adjust to the PBA."

While he pauses before going the way of Joey Marquez, Benjie Paras and the like, Enrico is developing his own brand of comedy through exposure. He tunes in to local sitcoms Whatta Men, Ok Fine and Kool Ka Lang as well as foreign programs like Sex and the City and That 70s Show. This basketball star also enjoys watching movies whether at home alone on dvd or inside the movie theater with his girlfriend.

Female fans will be disappointed to know he is dating someone exclusively. That is not to say though that he is no longer accessible. For one thing, his girlfriend seldom watches his games. Enrico’s friendliness makes him that much more attractive. "A lot of girls call my cell phone. I really don’t know how they get my number. I’ve changed numbers five times already but they always manage to find out how to reach me. The same goes for my landline. But you know, I really don’t mind talking to fans. I’d rather that they say something and talk to me rather than just listen to my voice and then putting the phone down."

There are upsides to his popularity. It doesn’t slip by him that some of his staunchest supporters have followed him from the UAAP to the PBA. But there are also downsides to being famous. He has learned that for every person who declares undying love for him, there is another equally dedicated to cutting him down. This early, Enrico has been victim to vicious rumors circulating via text messaging. The worse part about this is that some messages have been sent to his friends with the sole purpose of destroying his reputation.

That’s quite unfair for someone who leads a pretty wholesome life. By choice, he doesn’t drink or smoke. Socially, he can take no more than two bottles of beer. He doesn’t frequent bars, preferring coffee shops where he can hang out with friends. Until now, he is in touch with his Ateneo buddies–playing computer games with them or going to the mall to catch movies. His biggest luxury is his car, a white Honda Civic.

"Aside from treating my friends out, I spent my first check on my car. Most of the time naman, when I spend ng medyo mahal, more often than not sa kotse ko napupunta," shares Enrico who plans to buy a bigger vehicle–an Expedition would be nice, he says–as soon as he can afford one.

"People really look up to you so you really have to be responsible. I haven’t closed my doors on show business," he reiterates. "And maybe I can try politics someday. What attracts me most about politics is the opportunity to do public service."

Enrico Villanueva is turning 23 on June 23. He has proven he can evolve from bench warmer to King Eagle to Rookie Bull. More than opportunity, he has time.