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A solid PBL debut for Daroya
by Jonas Terrado (January 18, 2009)

Bacchus Energy Drink's Orlando Daroya has traveled different roads before reaching the Philippine Basketball League.

After years of playing in the collegiate and provincial scene, Daroya was signed by the Energy Warriors this season to boost the team's depth in the ongoing PG Flex Linoleum Cup.

In the season-opening tournament, he played in all 12 games and averaged 6.1 points on 36-percent shooting while hauling down 3.8 rebounds in 15.8 minutes of action. Daroya's best game was last January 10, when he erected a career-high 16 points in Bacchus' 79-75 upset of five-time champion Harbour Centre.

In that contest, Daroya shot 7-of-10 from the field while grabbing eight rebounds as he helped his team claim a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Although he has been solid contributor, the Calasiao, Pangasinan native admitted that he is still adjusting to the rough play of the league.

"Medyo nagaadjust pa ako kasi iba yung laro ko eh kumpara sa laro sa Arellano. Mas pisikal ang depensa dito," said Daroya.

The Arellano University standout got an opportunity to play basketball in the metropolis, when a local cop saw his potential thanks to his 6-3 frame.

"May tumulong sa akin na isang pulis pinakilala niya ako sa tatay ni Marlou Aquino," he recalled. "Tapos nung naggraduate ako sa University of Pangasinan tapos nagtryout ako sa Arellano nung 2003."

But Daroya slowly worked his game for Arellano, then known as the Flaming Arrows, making role playing duties in various tournaments such as the Father Martin Cup and the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA).

By 2007, he became one of the team's top players, bringing Arellano, now dubbed as the Chiefs, to their first-ever NCRAA championship. In that series, Daroya fired 36 points in a double overtime win over Emilio Aguinaldo College which saw him hit a game-tying triple that send the game to its first extra period.

Akala ko talo na kami nun e yun nashoot ko yung three points parang ginanahan ako lalo," he said.

Despite leading the Chiefs to a championship, he left the school and tried his luck elsewhere for the Pagadian Explorers of the National Basketball Conference. It was short-lived though, and soon he was back in his hometown, doing nothing, a situation that ultimately led him back to Arellano.

"Tambay na lang ako sa amin nun, pero naisip ko din na bumalik sa Arellano para humingi ng dispensa, at binigyan naman nila ako ng second chance," said Daroya.

And when he came back, his stock soared, leading the Chiefs to the FMC Division II title before sizzling for 32 points, 10 rebounds and five steals to upset University of Santo Tomas in the zonal tournament of the Philippine Collegiate Championship.

But Daroya wasn't done. He followed it up with a 31-point, nine-rebound, nine-block effort to defeat Manuel L. Quezon University then hit 33 points, nine rebounds and four blocks as the Chiefs pushed the three-time NCAA champion San Beda to the limit in the Elite Eight before bowing out.

His efforts earned him a spot in the PBL. And now that he been making a good strides in his basketball career, Daroya is hoping that his stint would help his family gain some financial security.

"Iniisip ko din yung kalagayan namin sa probinsiya kaya nagbalik ako sa basketball para matulungan sila," he said.

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