Job Cariaga plays basketball for passion
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 10 Nov 2018
Job Cariaga grew up in the shadow of the Araneta Coliseum were his Dad, Sean, used to frequent as an avid fan of The PBA. Sean was a fan of Crispa in the infant days of the country?s and Asia?s pioneer pro league before changing loyalty to San Miguel after the Redmanizers folded up in the early 80s.
?Although I?ve heard a lot how good Crispa when I was growing up, it was San Miguel really that I often watched while tagging along with my Dad in my teen years,? the young Cariaga told this writer in an interview last week. ?From there I fell in love with basketball."
From the time the Cariaga family of four, including Mom Maricel and older sister Ana moved to Calgary in Canada, playing basketball and making it to the pro rank has been Job?s dream.
?As I said, na-in love na ako sa basketball that when I enrolled in high school, I really tried my best to earn a berth in the school?s Bishop OByrne lineup competing Calgary?college league,? Job (Al Josef Benedict in real life) recalled.
?Besides, watching the game played in the PBA with my Dad, I really enjoyed it more. Fast, blinding fast, I should say and physical but not to harm.
Job played two years in the Triple A and in his last year in Grade 11, he was named to the Calgary All-Star high school team. That was in 2010.
A year later while in Grade 12, Job, who plays the shooting guard position, was adjudged Athlete of the Year of the entire league.
The Filipino-Canadian, also played American football (rugby) and soccer and was dubbed as every coach?s dream kid. He showed up at every practice early, stayed late and very enthusiastic. He was also every coach?s nightmare. He had neither the instinct nor the physical talent for the two sports.
?That?s the reason why my resolve and passion to make good in basketball was strengthened,? he said.
What he derived from playing soccer and rugby are his speed and footwork and stamina which, he said, augurs well in his basketball career.
?I still play both though to maintain my quickness and footwork as well as stamina. And like basketball, it?s fun playing them much as swimming is fun, too,? he assured.
Job is one of several, Fil-foreign players applying to be chosen in the coming PBA drafting season, hoping that his experience playing against taller and heftier counterparts in the Calgary collegiate could do well in fulfilling his dream.
His numbers - 15 points per game, 5 rebounds and 8 assists per game in high school play and 12 ppg, 6 rpg and 6 apg in college would attest to that.
Job also played two seasons in the PBA D-League where he perform well.
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