John Gabriel “Jao” de Joya Ong, 18 and a six-footer, has made his mark in basketball (his first love) and track and field. Having spent five years playing ball, the Ateneo High School fresh graduate now has junior UAAP basketball titles under his belt.
While his stint in track only lasted for a year, he demonstrated further agility as a sprinter, thrower and jumper. And it doesn’t end there—he jet-skis, too.
He has had his share of injuries, which he considers frustrating. This shooting guard/small forward, who looks up to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, believes teamwork is vital in basketball. He believes camaraderie is always the fruitful result of interaction with teammates. “No matter what you do, you can’t make it alone,” he says.
He is not afraid to express himself through fashion. He shines like any sports rock star. “Fashion is one of the best forms of self-expression; you want to look good when competing,” he states. And when he is in his game mode, he takes things “too seriously.” And learns that success is “failure turned inside out.”
Jao’s favorites
Music: Hip-hop, R&B, electro
Artists: Kid CuDi, Kanye West,
Lil Wayne, Drake
Movie genre: Comedy, action
Actor: Adam Sandler
Actress: Amanda Seyfried
Hangouts: Home, friends’ homes, basketball court
Vacation place: Punta Fuego, Batangas
Sports events: NBA playoffs/finals, Summer Olympics (basketball), UAAP
World history event: Our country’s independence