PASSION Stories
ERIC SUGUITAN: On Surviving a Heart Operation and Transitioning from Basketball Star to Teacher and Coach
Apr
Written By: ZerJosh Serrano and Paul Tamayo
When you’re a towering 6-foot-7 individual in a country where physical height doesn’t come in abundance, it’s perfectly understandable that people expect that you’re a professional basketball player. For Eric Suguitan, that expectation became a reality when he was drafted in the PBA in 2012.
But before he could carve a niche in the Philippines’ biggest basketball stage, Eric would be diagnosed with a heart ailment following a heart attack he suddenly experienced in 2015. His career as a basketball player immediately plunged downward.
Instead of blaming everyone and being angry for this unfortunate chapter of his life, Eric maintained a positive outlook knowing that his survival means that the Lord has something meaningful in store for him.
Ang hirap kasi I was really active as a basketball player. Kung saan-saan ako nakakapunta at nakakalaro noon. Malakas katawan ko at wala namang mga injury. Tapos one day na lang, nagka-heart attack ako. Actually during that exact moment, hindi ko alam na heart attack na pala kasi kinaya ko naman. Nalaman ko na lang na heart attack na pagkatapos ko ma-operahan.
After ng operation ko, ang hirap kasi nasa bahay lang ako for two years. Hindi yun ang nakasanayan ko. Yung two years na yun ang hirap kasi wala pa ako acceptance sa mga nangyari.
Pero alam ko na may plano si Lord sa akin kasi nabuhay ako. Sa heart operation ko pa lang, kung gusto na ko kunin ni Lord, kinuha na niya ako pero hindi ‘eh.
Eric never set foot in the PBA again, but he did discover what his true purpose in life is. Once one of the most promising big men in the country’s basketball landscape, Eric is now earning his living by being a teacher and coach in Isabela.
Kung natuloy ako sa PBA noon, wala akong chance na ma-meet yung mga students ko. Somehow, mas madami akong bata na na-iinspire ngayon through teaching and coaching. Thankful pa rin ako na kahit hindi ako nakapag-stay sa PBA nang matagal, nandito naman ako na tumutulong sa buhay ng mga bata.
On top of that, Eric now realized that all the hardships that he went through in life can serve as an inspiring lesson that he could impart to his students. He knows that his students will look up to him, and that serves as a motivation for him to be a good role model for these young individuals.
Being a teacher is a very taxing job, but Eric finds fulfillment in the fact that he is making a difference in children’s lives.
Kapag teacher ka, papakinggan ka talaga ng mga students mo. Minsan nga yung mga bata mas papakinggan pa yung mga teacher nila kaysa sa mga magulang nila. Kaya sobrang nag-iingat din ako sa mga actions ko at sa mga sinasabi ko sa kanila.
As a coach and as a teacher, I should lead by example. Yun ang lagi ko pinanghahawakan sa trabaho ko ngayon. I should walk the talk.
Aside from serving the community as a teacher in Isabela, Eric is also one of the basketball coaches in Passion Sports, a sports training camp founded by former PBA player Rob Labagala. Eric and Rob were former teammates during their collegiate career with the UE Red Warriors, and they have always maintained a strong bond of friendship throughout the years.
Eric says that he is thankful for the opportunity to be part of Passion Sports’ collective goal of molding young athletes into well-rounded persons on and off the court. The coaches and trainers at Passion Sports do not only help these athletes to improve their skills on the court, but they also focus on imparting values and morals outside of sports.
Sobrang laki ng tulong ng Passion Sports sa akin. Kasi after ng heart operation ko, hindi na ako nakalaro sa PBA. So walang basketball, walang trabaho. Kapag walang trabaho, walang pera.
Pero noong time na yun, tinawagan ako ni Coach Rob na maging isa sa mga coaches ng Passion Sports. Nakatulong sa akin financially and at the same time, lumawak yung perspective ko na kahit hindi na ako player, madami pa rin ako matutulungan na mga bata.
Aside sa makapag-turo kami ng basketball, ang pinaka-goal namin sa Passion Sports ay mai-ayos ang buhay at character ng mga bata. Ginagamit namin yung basketball para mai-push yung character building ng mga bata. We’re not satisfied in just teaching basketball skills to them. Gusto rin namin na matuto sila maging magalang, maging matulungin sa mga gawaing-bahay, at maging mas malapit sa Diyos.
Yun din ang dahilan bakit “Pray. Study. Sports.” ang mantra ng Passion Sports. Priority talaga namin na ma-improve yung character ng mga players namin.
That’s what makes Passions Sports unique as a sports camp. Eric emphasized that Passion Sports’ focus is to bring these young athletes closer to God, and help them become more aware of their roles in their respective families and in the community as well.
To put an end to our conversation, Eric took the time to provide some advice to athletes who might also encounter the challenges he went through. The sudden heart operation that derailed his basketball operation could have forced Eric to give up trying to find a purpose in life. But he stayed positive, and he is a living example of how important it is to trust the Lord’s work in our lives.
Even noong nalaman ko na hindi na ako makakapaglaro ng competitive basketball, hindi ko sinisi si Lord. Alam ko na His plans are bigger than mine. Kaya kahit noong nawala yung basketball sa akin, alam ko na makakapitan ko yung relationship ko with God.
Sinasabi ko palagi sa students ko and sa campers ng Passion Sports na kapag dumating na yung time na makamit na natin lahat ng pangarap natin, huwag pa rin natin makalimutan na i-honor si God at maging thankful sa mga blessings na binibigay Niya.
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