“Walang nagturo sa aking maglaro ng basketball,” Corpuz proudly said, and, as it turned out, it was his natural dexterity in handling a basketball that gave him the award, “Basta meron ang basketball na wala sa ibang sport.”
Working for his team and his team mates and not only for himself, Corpuz said, “Ineexpect [ko] na ako ang [magiging] MVP, pero hindi importante yun… kasi yung championship game ang habol [ko].”
Surprisingly though, in his elementary years, Corpuz played soccer instead of basketball for his school varsity team. Though he confesses that basketball is his favorite sport, he played soccer. He admitted that he would no longer be the same person without basketball.
Corpuz is considering a professional career in basketball but he said, “Depende sa school [ko] sa college… kung mangyayari, ayos na ayos.” If chance would not be upon him, he said that he aspires to take up electronics and communications engineering in the University of the Philippines and someday be a seaman or an engineer.
Predictably, Corpuz did not deny that he does not take his studies seriously. “Kasi ang pananaw ko sa buhay, mahirap ang puro aral ang [priority], kailangang may kasama talaga yan. Kaya sabay-sabay [sa akin] ang pag-aaral, DOTA, basketball, kaibigan, at ka-ibigan (girlfriend),” he says.
Perhaps, this is the reason why he keeps a handful of friends who accompany him in his numerous pranks. Thus, he admits that he knows he is childish sometimes.
“Kapag naging kabarkada niyo yung barkada namin, hindi niyo iisiping mapang-trip kami,” he laughs, “Makikisabay na lang kayo.”
Naturally, anyone would comment on that, but he remains oblivious to their scathing remarks.
“Huwag mong intindihin ang mga sinasabi ng iba tungkol sa iyo basta alam mong tama ka,” Corpuz said indifferently to the opinion of others about him, “tsaka importante na masaya ka sa buhay…ganyan talaga ang buhay.”
Corpuz said that he is what others see of him, he is the same person whether he is in school or at home.
Serious in his faith, he said that God always comes first in his list: family, school, basketball, DOTA, girlfriends only rank next.
Though he admitted that he is really serious with sports, he said that he is just enjoying everything now.
Being the eldest among his siblings, he admits that he dreams to have a family someday. As he is bound to focus more on his future, his ultimate ambition is commonplace, yet it is said in a manner original to him—“Malupit na bahay, malupit na kotse. Tapos ayun, komportable [kami].”
Knowing the value of living a clean life in the future, he said that he would never smoke or resort to drugs.
He wants to send out his gratitude to all those who cheered for their team. A true player desires to put up an exhilarating game, he added.
Toward the end of the interview, he eagerly shared his principle in life, “Gawin mo ang gusto mong gawin, kasi kahit gawin mo ang isang bagay kung hindi mo naman talaga gusto, wala rin ‘yon. Hindi ka rin magtatagumpay.”
Indeed, Misaki Alexis Tadeo Corpuz has proven himself to be a true captain of his team as he led them through the intramurals for the past four years to exceptional feats. Proving his exceptionality, he also led his team when they were sophomores to an unexpected senior-sophomore basketball finals. Even more impressive, he emerged victorious in the usual senior-junior rivalry last year. And, as he ignores what other would say about him, he applies the same tactics in his life.
Soon, he will achieve what he has come to accomplish, proving to be the captain of his own destiny. Two words that he has attributed to himself surely fit him, though some may scorn.
“Malupit kasama.” |
