A force on court: San Beda Red Lion Jomel Puno
It was a surprising sunny Saturday morning-—after days of torrential rains-—when the YOU.PH team headed to the court where the San Beda Red Lions were having their tune-up practice in time for the upcoming NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) tourneys. Days before, they won their opening game against De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.
As the Red Lions were winding down and preparing for a final huddle before calling it a day, team manager Coach Jude Roque signaled Red Lion Jomel Puno, who was doing some warm-down stretches off-court, that it was time for the shoot.
Puno, 23, is in his third year with the San Beda Red Lions. This Canada native, originally from Mississauga in Ontario, describes himself as a “pretty chill” and approachable guy. We had to take a pause during the shoot because there was a young basketball fan who wanted to take a photo with him.
Coach Roque described Puno as a very nice person, mostly quiet but very friendly, “Sometimes this personality of his also reflects in his game. This is why we always tell him to be more aggressive, perhaps to get mad sometimes. To show more passion and emotions,” Roque said. “He’s got so much potential being very skilled, athletic and quick, and gifted with height and length. These are the qualities that I noticed immediately when I first saw him in Toronto.”
But despite this, Puno can be a force to reckon with on-court. As of press time, the San Beda Red Lions has suffered only one loss this NCAA season, and as Puno described it during the shoot, “We just have to keep that focus,.” The Red Lions could bag the NCAA Championship basketball trophy for Season 101.
Perhaps the Lions’ lucky streak is also thanks to their basketball boot camp in Spain early his year. Puno recalled how he very much enjoyed his first trip to Europe,
The NCAA is the oldest collegiate basketball league in the country, composed of 10 member schools and San Beda is the only original founding member school left.
When Puno is not busy with school or basketball, this Marketing Management major loves playing Call of Duty with friends. Fashion=wise, he loves sticking to the basics, “I have so many black shirts,” he said.
That is why our collaborative shoot with GAP was perfect since he got to wear some fun basics.
Once he’s done with collegiate sports, Puno plans to take his basketball career to the next level by trying out in the pro leagues, either in Korea or in Japan. But for now, he is more focused on helping the San Beda Red Lions bag another NCAA Basketball championship, and stay with the Red Lions as the team and the school eye bigger pursuits.
Photography Lem Atienza
Assisted by Yani Espiel
Styling Luis Carlo San Juan
Grooming Jilliene Tan
Fashion provided by GAP
