As posted in uaapsports.com
By Anthony Divinagracia
and Ivan de Lara
When he was in Grade 3, Chris Macasaet really wanted to be part of De La Salle-Lipa’s basketball team. When he raised his hand to join the squad, however, the recruiters just ignored him. This influenced him to set his sights to another sport—volleyball.
Seven years later, Chris no longer had to raise his hands to get the attention of recruiters. Several collegiate agents pursued him relentlessly. But a La Sallian since his elementary years, Chris naturally decided to play for the De La Salle University-Manila.
“It has always been my dream to play for La Salle,” Chris said. “Besides, I already knew the school’s system, so there was no use for me to leave.”
The hype he got proved to be warranted. In his rookie year, the 6’2”-tall Chris already bagged the Best Blocker award. This has sent a warning to the whole league. Chris was not just pure buildup—he has real talent.
In Season 71, Chris assumed a bigger role. He and Emmanuel Boquieren were assigned to be co-captains of the team. Together with Justine Marchadesch, Mark Lee, Samuel Lubi, Jason Alejandro and Lorenzo Casanova, they reached the semifinals for the first time since La Salle last won the men’s championship in 2003. Chris was largely responsible for this feat as he produced more than 200 points the whole season to become the league’s top scorer. The Green Spikers eventually ended up in third place.
“Even I was surprised to know that I was the top scorer in the UAAP,” Chris revealed. “During games, I just do whatever I do in practice.”
Not a one-man team
This year, Chris stamped his offensive prowess anew as he tallied 256 points at the end of the eliminations to once again be named as the competition’s top offensive gunner. He, however, failed to carry his rookie-laden squad to the Final Four for the second year in a row.
This has prompted people to dismiss that La Salle is a Chris Macasaet team. Some quarters say that all the opposing teams have to do is contain him, and the rest of the squad will crumble. Chris says he just ignores this notion.
“I just laugh that impression off,” Chris said. “Those people just do not know or appreciate how hard my teammates work for our team to do better in the league.”
As team captain of La Salle, Chris surely knows that the other Green Spikers put their best in their trainings and games. He makes sure they do so.
“I am a very vocal leader,” Chris admits. “I talk to them and I guide them. Sometimes, I even scold them when they are doing something wrong.”
La Salle Coach Sammy Acaylar attests to how determined Chris is as a player and a team captain.
“Chris is a very good player,” Acaylar said. “He has a fighting heart and focus.”
The intense player that he is, Chris has also suffered from another misconception—that he is conceited.
“I do not blame them if that is their opinion,” Chris said. “I admit though that I am very passive.”
Even Michael Antonio, one of La Salle’s rookies, was initially intimidated by Chris when he entered the team.
“At first, I thought he was haughty,” Antonio confessed. “But later on, I found out that he is very supportive and is a good leader. He is like a big brother to us.”
Future lawyer
Also a member of the Philippine men’s volleyball team, Chris undoubtedly eats, breathes, and lives the sport. He, however, has the arduous task of balancing his studies and volleyball.
“I am lucky my class schedules and volleyball trainings do not stand in the way of each other,” Chris, a fourth year Psychology student, said. “I go to school in the morning, train in the afternoon, and rest and review at night.”
He maintains that volleyball may not be a permanent part of his life for long.
“I enjoy being part of the national team,” Chris said. “But I plan on taking up my Master’s degree after I graduate. I also plan on becoming a lawyer if time and my finances will allow me.
Before he graduates, however, Chris has one more dream—to bring the La Salle men’s volleyball team back to the Promised Land.
“Of course, I want the team to win the crown,” Chris said. “We are a young team; we still have a lot of chances to achieve that goal.”
If La Salle was a one-man team, Chris could have basked in all the glory. After all, he has won numerous individual awards earlier in his career. He, however, said that these individual recognitions no longer mattered that much.
“When I was younger, I relished being given these awards,” Chris said. “But now that I have matured, I take more joy from the team’s successes.”
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