Although he carries a familiar name, NU-Nazareth School’s Kurl Figueroa is ready to win on his own terms.
Being the younger brother of Jake Figueroa, NU-Nazareth School forward Johnkurl “Kurl” Figueroa is well-aware of the standards that he has to follow.
After all, Jake was a one-time UAAP Juniors’ Most Valuable Player with Adamson, before emerging as one of National University’s main men under Jeff Napa. In his final collegiate year, the athletic forward also made the Elite Team, leading National U to their first top-seeded finish since UAAP Season 76 in 2013.
But despite the high standards that he set, Jake would rather see Kurl follow his own path as a player, rather than cave into the pressure of being his carbon copy.
“Lagi niyang sinasabi sakin na kumbaga, wag ko na siyang habulin kasi marami na rin siyang na-achieve sa sarili nya, kaya dapat gumawa daw ako ng sarili kong pangalan sa basketball,” Kurl said after Nazareth School’s 60-50 win over the De La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers on Wednesday, January 14.
Now in his third year, Kurl seems ready to do just that.
The big man has been crucial to Nazareth School’s 2-0 start in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, averaging 12.5 points and eight rebounds as one of Kevin De Castro’s key pieces off the bench.
On Wednesday, Kurl finished with 15 points and six rebounds, and was crucial to the Bullpups’ second-half surge to close out the Junior Archers. Seven of the big man’s points came in the final period, capped off by an alley-oop play that gave the Bullpups a 57-50 lead with 3:16 left against La Salle-Zobel.
Kurl attributes his outings to De Castro’s system, which has allowed him to thrive at this point of his high school career.
“Sinusundan ko lang ‘yung mga tinuturo sa akin ni Coach Kev and ‘yung binibigay niyang role sa akin. Ginagawa lang namin ‘yung tinuturo niya; siguro kaya din nagagawa ko ‘yung ganyang stats, nagpapasalamat ako kay Coach Kev,” said the soft-spoken Kurl.
De Castro was the least surprised with Kurl’s fast start, knowing that the big man was primed for a bigger role heading into Season 88. The Bullpups are in the midst of a transition period, with much of their core, including Collins Akowe and Migs Palanca, exhausting their playing years in Season 87 last year.
“Yun nga, expected ko na ‘yun at napaguusapan namin kung paano namin mafi-fill in ‘yung mga nawala sa amin. So ayun, thankful, kasi may 15 points siya, tapos ayun nga, with the help of other players na rin like sila Ronnie [Diaz], sila Mot [Matias], at least kahit papaano total team effort,” De Castro said.
Although carrying the Figueroa name isn’t about following Jake’s path, Kurl Figueroa is still using his brother’s rise as a motivation — especially after witnessing Jake’s sensational last dance in Season 88.
“Gusto ko lang may mapatunayan ngayong taon, kaya ginagawa ko na rin ‘yung best ko para din sa team.” the younger Figueroa concluded.
Images by Excel Panlaque/KLIQ Inc.