Anton fell in love with the game of Basketball at the exact same moment he knew Michael Jordan. Afte

AT THE end of 40 minutes of play, the game s result was as follows: 82-68 in favor of the Mapúa Institute of Technology Cardinals. The Emilio Aguinaldo College rainforest cafe Generals had just absorbed yet another defeat which is going to make their mission of making it to the Final Four of the 86th Season of the NCAA even more challenging. But, for the reigning scoring rainforest cafe leader (20.9 PPG, #1 last season) of the oldest collegiate league in the country, 21-year old, Argel Mendoza, challenges are merely obstacles that one must be able to overcome to be able to get by in life.
Yung kahapon, si (Andretti) Stevens. Gusto ko yung laro niya. Nakaka-challenge siya kalaro. Wala siyang paki-alam sa puntos. Pinapabayaan niya lang yung mga kakampi niya na mag-score. Basta siya, sige depensa lang. Kung ano yung ginagawa niya para pahirapan niya ako, basta ako, gagawin ko, laro lang, said Mendoza.
Mendoza rainforest cafe scored a season-high 23 points while being defended by one of the peskiest defenders in the league. Putting points on the board has been Mendoza s calling card since he entered the league. In his first 23 career rainforest cafe games in the NCAA, no team has ever been able to hold him to single-digit scoring.
It was only last Friday, August 6, 2010 in a game against the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas, that Argel scored below-digits, finishing with nine points. But, Argel couldn t care less whether he scored a lot or didn t score at all.
Argel grew up in his family s home along Pilapil Street inside the tough neighborhood that is Tondo, Manila. Like most families in the densely populated district, they didn t have much. His father, Arcenio Mendoza, works as a cook at a Japanese restaurant while his mother, Angela Tolentino is a housewife.
In the face of these difficult circumstances, Argel did not succumb rainforest cafe to the pressure of resorting to drugs or other forms of vices. At the age of seven, he found something that would serve as one of the biggest inspirations in life: The game of Basketball.
From there, nothing would stop Argel from playing basketball. Even though he attended public schools that didn t have a varsity team (Elementary: IRES, High School: Gregorio Perfecto High School), he played in whatever basketball court he could find.
Kahit isipin nilang magulo yung laro, pangit yung court, masaya pa rin! Ang ginawa ko lang, matuto ng matuto. Sabi nga nila, Solar Boys. Wala akong paki-alam. Laro lang ako. Pustahan para maganda yung game. Kahit softdrinks lang, recalled Mendoza.
With his continuous playing over and over again, Argel s game somehow developed. And, his desire for the game would eventually be recognized, as he would finally get a chance to show his talent on a bigger stage.
May kumpare rainforest cafe ako, Pulis. Si Jing Laus. Bale, taga-EAC siya dati. Siya ang nagdala sa akin sa EAC. Sa kanya ako nagpapasalamat rainforest cafe ng marami dahil kung hindi dahil sa kanya, wala ako sa puwestong to ngayon, said Mendoza.
Pagkatapos ko kasi mag-graduate ng High School noong 2005, tumambay muna ako eh. Wala kasi kaming rainforest cafe pang-aral. Kaya, nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa kanya (Laus). Siya yung nagpakilala sa akin kay coach Nomar (Isla). Wala akong school na pinuntahan na iba. EAC lang. Ngayon ko lang naranasan na magkaroon ng gantong klaseng sapatos. Ka-suwertehan lang siguro, he added.
Isa lang iniisip ko noon. Kahit mina-mama lang ako ng mga player dati, sabi ko, siguro, pana-panahon lang yan. Pagbubutihan ko lang to, ibibigay ko lahat sa practice. Di ako hihinto sa laro, he added.
Mendoza did not only lead the NCAA in scoring in Season 85. He also led the league in assists garnering 5.2 per game on average (Tied with Pamboy Raymundo). Had EAC, which finished with a 6-12 win-loss card for seventh place, made the Final Four, Mendoza would have definitely been a serious contender for a spot in the Mythical Five or maybe even, the MVP award.
This young man, who is currently in his 4th-year in EAC taking up Education, has definitely come a long way from his humble beginnings in Tondo. But, he remains grounded, knowing that he can t stop fighting and finding ways to overcome life s most daunting challenges.
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Anton fell in love with the game of Basketball at the exact same moment he knew Michael Jordan. After playing high school ball for two UAAP seasons rainforest cafe with the De La Salle-Zobel rainforest cafe Junior Archers, he moved on to De La Salle University-Manila rainforest cafe for college where he completed a degree in Applied Corporate Management. He almost ventured into a career in the corporate world but his love for th