In a move that has left both the basketball and volleyball communities stunned, DLSU Green Archer standout Luis Pablo has officially announced his decision to pursue a new chapter after his championship stint in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, suiting up for the volleyball court in what may be one of the most ambitious crossovers in UAAP history.
While transitions happen from time to time, a complete change in sport is rare. The decision has since showcased intrigue across the UAAP with many questioning the motivations behind the sudden shift and how the cager’s skill set will translate into an entirely different discipline.
From rebounds to receives
The announcement came as a shock to many, with Pablo confirming his decision in a social media post featuring him holding a pair of volleyball kneepads, followed by a group photo that seemed to be a training session with the DLSU Green Spikers. The caption, which simply read “New court, same mindset,” immediately sparked mixed reactions from UAAP fans, with many unsure whether the move was genuine or part of an elaborate off-season joke.
In an interview with The LuhSallian, Pablo described the reasoning behind the sudden decision as both “logical” and “long overdue.”
“Gusto ko talaga ‘yung depensa,” he shared. “Sa volleyball kasi, halos bawat play, kailangan mong sumubsob para sa bola. ‘Yun talaga ang hustle.” He also expressed versatility in his athleticism, noting that “jumping is still jumping,” and that his experience on hardwood would “naturally carry over.”
(You know, I’ve always liked defense. And in volleyball, you’re basically diving for the ball every play. And that’s just hustle.)
Early sessions, however, quickly challenged his assumption about the sport, as Pablo found himself stranded, navigating unfamiliar movements and reactions on the court. “Akala ko makukuha ko kaagad,” he admitted. “Different feeling siya kapag ‘di ka nakakapagdribble. Kapag tumama na ‘yung bola, nagbi-build up na ‘yung momentum.”
(I thought I’d pick it up right away. It’s a different feeling when you can’t just dribble. When the ball touches the floor, momentum is already building up.)
Green Spikers Head Coach Jose Roque has since focused on helping Pablo unlearn certain basketball habits, as the former power forward begins to realize that while intensity remains the same, the instincts required for volleyball demand an entirely new set of approaches.
As Pablo continues his transition onto the unusual Taraflex, the difference becomes harder to ignore. While the game may still revolve around a ball and a court, the surface beneath him has proven far less forgiving than the hardwood he once called home.
Under a new training arc
Following Pablo’s transition, his training struggles showed that he was still a diamond in the rough. From accidentally boxing out teammates to dribbling the volleyball, his unfamiliarity left the Green Spikers stunned. “Grabe, ang hirap pala nito kaysa sa inaasahan ko,” Pablo admitted, much to Rui Ventura’s chagrin.
(Wow, this was much harder than I anticipated it to be.)
During one of the scrimmages on the court—as Pablo lined up for a serve with the ball in his hands–he accidentally hit one of his teammates on his launch. He described that experience as “nerve-wracking.” He had learned the hard way about how different serves and attacks work through long lectures from teammates and coaches.
On his ascension to volleyball glory, another epiphany struck as the midair battlefield is even more unforgiving and intense than back home. “Sa basketball, nati-timing-an ko ‘yung shot attempt. Ngayon, the court is much smaller, and with the number of attacks hurled at me, mas nakakalito,” he realized before being on the receiving end of a ball flying off a mistimed jump. Even so, the amount of potential he has is something to behold.
(In basketball, I could time the shot attempt. But now, the court is much smaller, and with the number of attacks hurled at me, it’s more confusing.)
Upon learning a masterclass on Taraflex defense, Green Spikers’ libero Neil Flores tried stifling his laugh at the visual antics of the big man going for a proper pancake reception. With a big wingspan like his, the defensive potential was hard to ignore, given how menacing he could be for the opposing team. It was enough to give him pointers on how to defend with his life, like hustling for the ball for a dig. “I find it endearing to be a part of his learning experience for the sport, it brings new life to the team for me,” Flores emphasized, overseeing the big man’s tenacity. On both sides of the court, for him, old habits die hard.
Unleashing the alley-oop spike
Eventually, the towering forward found his rhythm on the Taraflex by treating high sets exactly like basketball lob passes. Syncing up seamlessly with the Green Spikers’ playmakers, Pablo realized that a perfectly timed set is no different from an alley-oop in basketball. During a recent scrimmage, with the score tied at 24-all, he signaled for a quick play. He launched himself into the air from the attack line, soaring with the same hang time that usually leaves defenders in the dust on the hardcourt.
“Once I pretended the net was just a rim that someone lowered by a few feet, everything clicked,” Pablo jokingly explained. “I just wait for the lob, jump out of the gym, and instead of grabbing the ring, I just smash the ball into the third row.”
The visual of a basketball big man winding up for a quick hit in the middle is nothing short of terrifying for opposing blockers. Standing at a formidable height, Pablo brings a staggering 100-percent attack efficiency to his sheer intimidation. Opponents from other universities are left frozen as the Taft-based squad deploys their newest offensive weapon. In a tune-up match against the ADMU Blue Eagles, instead of setting up a standard block, rival players instinctively tried to plant their feet to draw an offensive foul against the Green Archer. After all, who would dare contest a spike that looks exactly like a fastbreak poster dunk waiting to happen?
This transition proves Pablo’s sheer athletic versatility, leaving the Green-and-White community wondering what the collegiate standout will conquer next. Will he trade his knee pads for cleats and join the DLSU Green Booters? Knowing his habits, he might just try to box out the goalkeeper during a corner kick. Or perhaps he will try swinging for the fences with the baseball team, treating every pitch like a meticulous free-throw routine.
“Basta may bola, hahanapan ko ng paraan para mag-rebound,” Pablo quipped with a grin, “even if I have to dig it first.”
(As long as there’s a ball, I’ll find a way to rebound.)