Alelu Flores once bloom in greener grass with UAAP’s FEU Tamaraws

CEBU, Philippines —  Once upon a time in his basketball life, Paul Alelu Quiapo Flores bloomed where the grass is greener with the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in his colorful days in the University Athletic Association of Philippines (UAAP).

 They reached their zenith of glory in the prestigious league based in Manila when the Tamaraws established themselves as the best collegiate ballclub in the country a decade and a half ago.

On top of winning back-to-back UAAP championships, the Tamaraws, then coached by Koy Banal, dominated the University Games in Bacolod City and emerged as national champions of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) in 2004.

The following year, aside from retaining their UAAP crown, the Tamaraws lorded it over the Father Martin’s Cup, then steered the Philippine team to the title of the International Friendship Tournament in Guam, United States.

In 2005, they were already mentored by his uncle Robert ‘Bert’ Flores, who was part of the FEU Tamaraws back-to-back champion team in the 1990 and 1991 UAAP seasons together with Victor Pablo and Johnny Abarrientos.

“During our time, I can say that we did not just have good and talented players and coaches, we also have a good organization. We enjoyed the all-out support of the management and the school community. We’re like one big family,” said Alelu Flores. “We mean business inside the playing court but after games, we treat each other like a family. As what coach Bert always tells us - heart plus mind plus prayers plus fun equals success. We play hard, we play our hearts out. We train to be a winner.”

What makes the Tamaraws of 2004 and 2005 special was that nine of them made it to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)led by their team captain and top gunner Arwind Santos.

Others who landed in the pro league were Jeff Chan, Mark Isip, Jonas Villanueva, Benedict Fernandez, Francis Barcellano, Eder Saldua, Denok Miranda, and Ryan Joseph Rizada.

The rest of the Tamaraws during their golden era in mid 2000s were Jerome Villanueva, Jan Ross de la Cruz, Marlon Adolfo, Arbi Mangahas, and Raymund Nietes.

Of them all, Flores forged a friendship to last with Santos, the ‘Spiderman’ of San Miguel Beermen who is a one-time PBA Most Valuable Player, nine-time champion, 11-time All-Star, and two-time All-Star and Finals MVP.

 “Our friendship has gone a long way. It has been tested through good and bad times. Over the years, it gets stronger. We may be separated by distance but we always find time to connect with each other. He’s a friend for life,” said Flores of his superstar pal.

As a role player for the Tamaraws, the 37-year-old Flores has had his unforgettable moments too.

In Game 2 of the 2004 UAAP Finals, Flores employed a pesky, leech-like defense that held La Salle star Macmac Cardona scoreless in the entire second quarter while he nailed five markers. Then in the second round of 2005 UAAP season, he scored eight straight points in the closing minutes of the game resulting to their come-from-behind victory against the UST Tigers. He was eventually named as best player of the game.

While playing hoops, Flores said he learned many lessons about life.

“The real life of a player is not at the height of his glory or popularity but on what he becomes when his career is over,” said Flores, now a banker and businessman who dabbles into coaching and organizing developmental leagues. “One must bear in mind that you will not be a basketball player forever. You mush have a fall back in your career.”

Like any other ballers, Flores said he really wanted to make it to the PBA. Unfortunately, the tide of things didn’t go in his favor following his glorious moments with the Tamaraws.

“After we won the UAAP championship in 2005, my mother Rosario Charito got seriously ill. My father Romeo Sr. was a seaman and being the eldest in a brood of four, I have to go home to take care of my mom and my younger siblings. Sadly, she passed away in September of 2006,” recalled Flores, who now has his own family with wife Liezl and their three kids John Zaccheus Rosemeo, 10, John Alelu Ross, 3, and Janine Aaliyah Rose, 2.

“That is one of the reasons why I wan’t able to purse my dream to become a PBA player. I have a responsibility to take care of my family at the moment they needed me most. I chose my family over a career path in the PBA. Looking back, I did not regret it. In fact, it is one of my proudest moments in life.”

For Flores, you don’t have to be a PBA cager to keep your basketball star on shining and make a difference in the lives of others.

“You don’t have to be a PBA player or a superstar if you want to serve the sport of basketball. If you are just true and sincere with what you are doing, the feeling is very fulfilling,” said Flores.

“Like me, I’ve been enjoying serving basketball enthusiasts through organizing leagues, conducting clinics, and coaching young players in our team,” added the head coach of Consolacion Sarok Weavers.

As for his PBA aspirations, Flores said it shall never die. He is keeping his fingers crossed that one of his children would be able to fulfill that dream one day down the road.

“My dream of playing in the PBA will remain an unfinished business for me. I just hope that someday one of my children will try to reach that dream that was well within my grasp had it not been for life’s circumstances that came my way.”