FilOil Spotlight: James Forrester

Slumbering Chieftain

Two years.

Two years was all he got to show his wares on Philippine soil.

It’s sad that we can only watch him for two years as a collegian, tantalizing everyone with his potential, and occasionally showing a beast here and there in the course of the NCAA’s 88th season.

But even if he graduates from college ball abruptly, it’s safe to say that James Forrester of the Arellano University Chiefs won’t be giving us only those two years of basketball to remember him by. He’s sure to get picked in the first round if he applied for the PBA Draft. Or he could just return to the D-League of the PBA and sharpen up before entering the pro circuit.

The Fil-Canadian Forrester is a rare breed nowadays. Pretty much like Calvin Abueva, minus the rough edges and all the gulang, although this guy packs his own version of veteran smarts. He’s close to 6’3” or even 6’4”. He can put the ball on the deck. He can do a rack attack at will. His jumper? Silky smooth and aimed true. But there’s more, he can play one through four, if need be. He can take the hits and is greatly unbothered by those hard fouls. When he football carries that ball down the middle, one can just shake his head and pray that whoever he rams to stays conscious.

If you thought Calvin Abueva was the real deal, the true monster out there, wait till Season 89 where the Chieftain of Arrelano’s star will shine all the more brighter.

With his demeanor, one can conclude that Forrester isn’t the firebreather type,the one who roars and is feared by everyone. He’s a silent type. And you guys know what they say about the silent types. They’re more dangerous than the vocal ones. And James Forrester is pretty much no different from them.

He’s a winner.

He wants a Final Four finish for the Chiefs this time around, having missed the bus last season since Forrester was unavailable to them early. But the build of this team, with comebacking Keith Agovida and a prized point guard find in Gio Jalalon, there’s nowhere to go but up, and their slumbering Chieftain will lead them to that stage of the NCAA tournament.

He has to wake up.

Someone should light a match and fire up his belly.

He’s in cruise control mode in the preseason. But the numbers he piles up in a mere 20-minute stint to keep him fresh and just in game shape? Those are numbers someone regularly puts up, with a plus-10 minute court time. Imagine if this guy went into full gear.

Scary?

Not even close.

More of terrifying.

Very. Terrifying.