Kamustahan with former UAAP MVP Dylan Ababou

ABS-CBN Sports And Action

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Transcript

00:00 "Dylan is injured again, let's trade him."

00:02 While I was trading, I would go to other teams, share gospel,

00:05 then I would get injured again, I would get traded again.

00:07 So it's like that, literally, I became a missionary, I became a journeyman.

00:11 As a family, sometimes we are redirected to other paths to pursue other careers.

00:25 But that doesn't mean that we are lost.

00:28 Rather, we are diverted to a greater and bigger calling.

00:32 And today, we are going to talk about that,

00:34 with none other than Dylan Ababu.

00:37 How is life recently for you?

00:38 I have four jobs right now.

00:41 Four jobs, that's a lot.

00:43 Two of them are about basketball.

00:45 I did my own basketball skills training and player development.

00:50 So, any ages, any levels, any genders.

00:54 I coach at Tolario Union School.

00:57 It's a high school, so I assist and coach varsity girls.

01:01 PE teaching, marketing for physical therapy, home health, wheelchairs, scooters, and so on.

01:09 Where are you now in the US and when did you move there?

01:14 Last year only.

01:15 September 2022, LA, then October, I moved here to Tulare, California.

01:21 My whole family has been in America ever since.

01:25 I'm only in the Philippines because of basketball.

01:27 That's why I was left behind.

01:28 You are doing four jobs at the same time.

01:31 And then, while you were in the Philippines,

01:32 can you tell us about the different teams you played for?

01:39 When I was in fourth year high school, I tried out for the RP Youth National Team.

01:43 Now, they call it Batang DILAS.

01:46 Jerby Cruz was already in the US team.

01:47 Chester Naylor, Francis Aliana, Mark Canlas.

01:50 They said, along with Daryl Bautista, who was also in the youth team,

01:53 they said, "Join us in the US team. We'll be together."

01:56 - I was in the national team. - They pulled you.

01:59 Yes, they pulled me.

02:00 I went to the US team in 2005.

02:03 I was also in the PBL teams, Harbor Center,

02:06 which is now Northport in the PBA.

02:08 It's now Magnolia in the PBA.

02:10 Boss Manny Pangilinan was in the men's national team.

02:14 I was in the team from 2008 to 2011.

02:18 After 2011, I was drafted in the PBA, Baraco Bowl.

02:22 After a few months, I was drafted in the Hinebra.

02:24 I played there for three and a half years.

02:26 I went back to Baraco Bowl, I was transferred to Tocintex,

02:29 I was transferred to Blackwater, I was transferred to Globalport,

02:32 I was transferred to Phoenix.

02:33 I went to KIA, I went to Northport in Glet,

02:36 I went to Chooks to go 3-on-3.

02:38 After that, the team was supposed to be Platinum Karaoke.

02:42 But for 10 days, I prepared for one year for the PBA Tricks,

02:46 not for Platinum Karaoke.

02:47 Then 10 days before the opening, my Achilles tendon was cut.

02:50 My Achilles tendon was ruptured.

02:53 It was a long time, a year of rehab.

02:55 But when my Achilles tendon was ruptured,

02:57 I decided to retire from basketball.

02:59 After one year, in September, I came here.

03:02 Because I'm already retired, I won't play anymore.

03:05 The time that you had to step back from the game

03:08 because of the injury, how did that change?

03:12 Not just your career, because you said you retired,

03:14 but your perspective in life.

03:16 When my Achilles tendon was ruptured,

03:20 I knew right away that it was a sign from the Lord

03:23 that I needed to stop playing basketball

03:24 and focus on mentoring and coaching.

03:27 It's a good thing that it was just one year.

03:28 You'll be forced to stop playing.

03:30 So it was a clear sign, and I accepted what happened.

03:34 I knew that I was being diverted,

03:36 like you said earlier, to a different path.

03:38 When you thought that it was a sign to stop,

03:42 how challenging was it?

03:43 How was the process of accepting that?

03:45 The process of accepting that you'll be playing basketball

03:47 for almost your entire life.

03:50 I sacrificed and devoted time to prepare for the tournament.

03:53 Then, as soon as I felt that I was in shape,

03:58 I felt that I was ready.

03:59 That's when I got injured, so that happened many times.

04:01 The Lord also told me to relax, but I was too focused.

04:05 I don't have any regrets because

04:07 I gave my best since I was young.

04:09 I left everything on the floor.

04:11 I didn't hold back, I didn't save energy,

04:14 I really all-out.

04:15 So now, I feel like I'm okay.

04:17 I gave my all.

04:18 That's my only faith in basketball.

04:20 I won't reach that.

04:21 I had a lot of injuries, so I won't be able to achieve that.

04:23 I'm okay. I'm okay to leave.

04:25 Through the years, you have been moving

04:27 from one team to another,

04:29 from one place to another,

04:30 but at the same time, you're making progress.

04:33 Not only are you moving, but you're also making progress in life.

04:36 How has that helped you to become the person you are right now?

04:39 About moving,

04:41 I remember Dr. Andy Howe told me,

04:44 "The joy of man."

04:45 I really go to a lot of places.

04:47 Well, personally,

04:48 I also became a missionary.

04:50 Because in every team I went to,

04:53 we set up Bible study groups.

04:55 Of course, with the help of Brother J.J. Helterbrand,

04:57 of course, Kirby Ray Mundo,

04:59 they were the ones who shared the Bible with me.

05:01 They were Kelly Williams,

05:02 Larry Fonashere,

05:03 Brother Doug Kramer,

05:05 Dylan was injured again.

05:06 We traded him.

05:07 While I was getting traded,

05:08 I would go to other teams,

05:09 share the gospel,

05:10 and I would get injured again,

05:12 and I would get traded again.

05:13 So, it's like that. I literally became a missionary.

05:15 It became a joy.

05:16 For someone who has been frequently traded,

05:19 who moved from one place to another,

05:21 how do you find the sense of belongingness?

05:24 I'm very grateful because

05:26 my teammates in the PBA,

05:29 the ones I was with in college,

05:30 my coaches in the PBA,

05:32 the ones I was a coach with in the amateur or national team,

05:36 we had reunions.

05:38 So, it helped.

05:39 For me, it was not an issue finding the sense of belongingness.

05:42 I had social belongingness.

05:44 But right now, Dylan,

05:45 how would you describe for you what home is?

05:47 For me,

05:48 our identity is Jesus Christ.

05:51 We are all in Christ.

05:52 That's our identity.

05:53 If I were to connect it to home,

05:54 the definition of true home is

05:56 when you are with your fellow believers.

05:58 So, wherever you are,

05:59 it's not limited to a house,

06:01 a team,

06:02 an establishment,

06:03 or an office.

06:05 No, wherever you are,

06:06 you're with your fellow believers,

06:08 your family,

06:10 your loved ones.

06:11 That's home.

06:11 I have heard different definitions of home,

06:15 but that was one of the greatest definitions.

06:17 Thank you.

06:18 That's from God.

06:19 I really appreciate this interview.

06:21 I hope you can help and inspire more people.

06:25 Alright, thank you so much again, Sir Dylan.

06:27 I hope to see you soon.

06:28 I hope your mentoring career in the US will flourish.

06:32 Thank you very much.

06:33 And of course, more blessings to you,

06:35 Marie's, and the whole family.

06:36 (upbeat music)

06:41 (upbeat music)

06:46 (upbeat music)

06:51 (upbeat music)

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