Cholo Añonuevo looks to finally make a splash for the FEU Tamaraws as he enters UAAP Season 87 with a renewed love for basketball.
Without question, Cholo Añonuevo was supposed to be one of FEU’s long-term stars as he came out of their Baby Tamaraws program brimming with potential.
But things haven’t panned out for the six-foot-five Añonuevo. He sat out UAAP Season 84 after his debut due to a right foot injury. While he returned for UAAP Season 85, Añonuevo was once again limited come Season 86.
Now, Añonuevo will enter his fourth year in Morayta for Season 87.
“The past few seasons wasn’t going really my way. Syempre, there’s a reason for it and may plano naman si God,” Añonuevo told The GAME during the Season 87 basketball press conference in Cubao. “I’m just gonna take it day by day and try to be available for FEU and Coach Sean [Chambers]. Right now, I’m feeling healthier and ready for the season…I’m gonna try my best to play the full season naman.”
FEU went through a major revamp following their three-win UAAP Season 86 campaign. Denok Miranda was promoted to program director, while former Alaska import Chambers was tapped as new head coach.
It’s been an adjustment, but Chambers brings positive energy, and a fun learning environment according to the winger.
“The culture has been more of a positive and learning standpoint. He gets a lot of teachings as well from Coach Tim as well,” he says. “Learning the triangle, it was fun. A lot of movement. You really gotta know the triangle to really execute it.”
Former Baby Tams Veejay Pre, Janrey Pasaol, and Jedric Daa also crossed over to Morayta to form a solid rookie core. Añonuevo says they’ve immediately created a competitive environment in practice that hopefully translates come game time.
They’ve also impacted the winger tremendously, who relishes the opportunity to teach and learn from them. After all, it’s through these young guns that Añonuevo has gotten his love back for basketball.
It’s a welcome development, given that Añonuevo time in Morayta has been filled with adversity.
“It’s been fun because they really have fun when they play. That’s why we all started playing. It just came back to me when I was in high school, like just how I enjoyed the game before. During the past few seasons as well…during injuries, after injuries, you lose the sense of fun again,” said Añonuevo.
Besides a healthy season, Cholo Añonuevo now hopes to lead for FEU. After all, he will be a veteran alongside guards Royce Alforque and Jorick Bautista.
With this, he’ll be bringing a “more experienced, more mature type of game” for the UAAP Season 87 Tamaraws.
“Hopefully, [I can become a leader]. And just ‘yung experience ko din from playing in the UAAP and just being, you know, my basketball IQ there. So, I’m just trying to help really out FEU as best as I can.”
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.