After being sidelined in his rookie year because of citizenship issues, Tyler Tio was finally given the green light to take the floor in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The highly-touted recruit from Xavier School did not disappoint, providing quality minutes off the bench to hold the fort as a key backup in the Blue Eagles’ medley of guards.
Tio first picked up the craft at age six after being convinced by his father and older brother to participate in basketball camps, where his talent caught the attention of some coaches from the Xavier basketball team. A product of the same program that has produced the likes of Chris Tiu and Isaac Go, Tio unleashed his potential as a bonafide star for the Golden Stallions through determination and valuable work ethic both on and off the court.
“I just tried to make sure to do extra work every day, whether that was extra shooting reps, dribbling, weights, even film.”
Despite sitting out the last season, the sweet-shooting guard did not stop working on his game as part of Team Glory Be, Ateneo’s Team B. He believes that the extra year of preparation served as a blessing that has helped him become hungrier, stronger, and more mature as he enters the country’s top collegiate league.
As a rookie point guard, he noted how different the crowd and atmosphere were compared to his days playing high school ball. However, Tio believes that the bigger crowd serves as an advantage for the team, especially on crucial possessions.
With an offensively flawless debut of 14 points on 6/6 shooting in just 11 minutes, Tio marks his breakout as the highlight of his rookie year.
“I was very anxious because it was my first game, but super excited as well. I just wanted to finally play [in the UAAP]. Thankfully, my shots went in. It was a surreal game.”
However, even with a solid first outing, Tio admits that it is a struggle for him to get consistent playing time within a stacked point guard rotation led by Matt Nieto and Jolo Mendoza. But this does not deter Tio from continually pushing himself to become better. By putting in the work day in and day out, Tio believes that his hard work will eventually pay off.
“[I] just got to keep working hard and play my game,” shares Tio. “The rest will take care of itself.”
To crack a permanent spot in the rotation, Tio understands that he needs to work on his strength and explosiveness, decision making, and ball handling. He also recognizes the need to become a more vocal leader on the court.
Despite the exhilaration of a championship in his rookie season, he knows that the road to a title defense can only get steeper. This is why Tio is only looking to improve himself every practice and every game to make sure that the trophy stays in Katipunan for years to come.
