Jon Jon, as he is fondly called by friends, family, and fans, credits his father for introducing him to the game. A former player himself, his father would use any occasion as a reason to give him a basketball.

As they say, perhaps it’s in the blood.

Jon Jon started playing organized basketball in the fourth grade, after trying out and qualifying for the San Beda Varsity Basketball Team. His career with San Beda came to its climax when he led the Lions to the NCAA Championship Game against Letran last year.

As a nominee for the MVP award, Jon Jon replied with a characteristic selfless grin on queries as to how his team managed to succeed that season. “Since I was graduating then, gusto ko makaabot naman kahit sa championship yung team,” Jon Jon replied.

Going to UP was the one decision that changed his life. He was overwhelmed with the support and acceptance he received from the UP community. For him, the coaching staff has been supportive and inspiring, motivating each member of the team to give their best shot.

“They bring out the best in me,” Tabique says. Although adjustment was never that difficult for Tabique since most players also came from San Beda, being a rookie is not an easy task. You have to prove yourself, and that means a lot of hard work has to be done. “Height pa lang, talo na ako eh,” Jon Jon muses.

With erstwhile rival Jay-R Reyes on the same squad, Jon Jon is often regarded as the “other one.” Though his role may be diminished in college, Jon Jon looks forward to playing with Reyes, now one of his best friends on the team.

For more than a decade, fate has not been kind to UP. The last championship was won with Joe Lipa at the helm at the end of the 80’s. This mounting pressure to win another championship is not lost on Tabique. “We [the team] feel pressure, but [sic] not losing hope.”

In fact, Jon Jon’s vision of the future is clearer than ever. The Lino Tabique game plan for UP’s success has four cornerstones: good basic defense, solid teamwork, belief in one’s coach and teammates, and the heart to win. As for himself, Tabique also implements a pre-game regimen of eating right, having enough rest, and having a lot of focus while playing.

Jon Jon remains flattered by the way people continue to welcome him to the UP community. Although he felt a little awkward being in the limelight at first, he’s getting used to the hype that surrounds varsity basketball.

“Una, hindi nga ako pinapansin eh, puro Jay-R Reyes na lang!” he retorts with a rather big laugh, but now he has his own share of stalkers. His most unforgettable stalker so far knows almost everything that he does —from his locker room habits to where he loves to eat. Although Tabique does not mind the attention, he’d rather that these people introduce themselves instead of giving him that awkward feeling of being followed. “It’ll be much worse if it’s a guy!” Tabique says in mock horror.

Jon Jon shares that aside from basketball, swimming is another sport close to his heart. Nothing else exists for Jon Jon at the moment except for basketball and academics. He’d rather spend whatever free time he has left relaxing at home instead of whiling it away in bars.

Despite appearances to the contrary, Jon Jon insists that he still has a personal life. Although his parents are in the United States, he can feel their love and support for him, and he is grateful.

Jon Jon is currently single. And what does he like in a girl? “Mabait, sexy, and understanding,” he says with extra emphasis on understanding. All you girls whose ears are flapping with this information should take note that he usually likes older women, because he wants someone to take care of him. Another major turn-on for Jon Jon is a pretty face with a matching set of equally beautiful eyes.

Not unlike many, JonJon dreams of a career away from basketball. He sees himself as a businessman 10 years from now (since his family is in the medical supply business), or in a different country, working and earning lots of money.

Jon Jon is currently a Comparative Literature major. He is also interested in pursuing a career in either Tourism or Mass Communication. He admits that there was pressure during the course of the season as he was juggling time between schoolwork and basketball, but he manages to cope.

Shy, loveable, and friendly indeed: Jon Jon Tabique is all that and, to borrow an idiom, a bag of chips.



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Just so you know, Jon Jon prefers boxers over briefs, tall mestizas over petite morenas, and tea over coffee. =========
This article was submitted last September. Our apologies if it only came out now. -- Admins