Watch out for Kevin De La Pena!

Si Kelvin de la Pena ang isa sa aasahang players ngayong taon na ito ng Mapua Cardinals sa kanilang kampanya sa NCAA 2007 season.

Si Kelvin ay nasa ikatlong taon na niya para sa Cardinals and most people believe, it is his time to shine.

Siya ay isang Fil-Am, anak ni Ricardo de la Peña, dating player din ng Mapua na kasabayan nina Atoy Co at Freddie Hubalde pero ngayon ay naka-base na sa Amerika. si Ricardo ay nakapaglaro rin sa PBA noong late 70’s sa San Miguel Beer team.

A few years ago, umuwi si Kelvin rito with the hope na makukuha siya para sa college team at sinuwerte siya dahil isinama siya agad ni Coach Horacio Lim sa Cardinals.

Hindi siya masyadong nagpakita last year pero this year, ipinapangako niya na tutulungan niya talaga ang Cardinals the best way he can.

"I’m hoping that our team will make it to the finals this time. Not much has changed, although we have a new coach (Leo Isaac) but the team composition remains almost the same. Which means that I feel that we’re a bit solid than the other teams. We’ve adjusted to the style of Coach Leo and I think that should be one good thing going for us," sabi ni Kelvin.

Si Kelvin ay estudiyante ng Mapua sa kursong Psychology.

"It’s very hard combining studies and our being a senior player for MIT. Mahirap kasi mataas ang standard ng schooling sa Mapua. Hindi puwedeng maga-absent sa classes, and lalo na, you can’t take your academics for granted. Kaya mahirap kasi sa umaga practice and then we go straight to our classes. But we’re coping up, at least most of us survived our last term with good grades," kuwento ni Kelvin.

Nakapasok na rin sa line-up ng Cebuana Lhuillier si Kelvin at isa na rin sa vital cogs ni Coach Luigi Trillo.

"We have a strong line-up in our PBL team, but I guess we need more harmony and solidarity kasi nga we’re just a new team. But basing from the way we have been performing in our tune-up games, I think we’re up to a good showing."

Minsan na rin siyang nakalaro sa PBL, sa Harbour Centre team, at ngayon naman, jersey ng Cebuana Lhuillier ang susuotin niya.

"I’m excited to play again in the PBL, at lalo akong excited dahil napunta ako sa maganda at malakas na team."

Marami ang nagsasabi sa kanya na dapat ngayong taon ay magpakita na siya because anytime in the next drafting, he would be eligible.

"I really hope to perform well, play good, bring our team to the championships, and we’ll see, if it’s time, then magpapa-draft na ako. Of course, it’s everybody’s dream to be a professional player. I intend to turn pro and be a PBA player someday, and it really be nice if I get there soon."

Watch out then for Kelvin de la Pena, sa Mapua Cardinals para sa NCAA, at sa Cebuana Lhuillier para naman sa PBL.