A Week Was All It Took: Landyn Jumawan Gives UST a Reason to Believe

The departure of veterans, King Tiger Nic Cabañero and UST guard Forthsky Padrigao left more than empty roster spots for the UST Growling Tigers. Rather, it left a lingering question on who will step forward when the moment demanded someone to. 

Perhaps, the answer arrived thousands of miles away from España Boulevard and comes in the name of 

Landyn Jumawan.

Barely a week into his stay in the Philippines, the 6-foot-4 guard from Whitmore Village, Hawaii had already begun writing his first chapter in black and gold. A one-and-done recruit, Jumawan came to UST after competing in the NCAA Division I with the Northwestern State University Demons. His adjustment period, however, seemed nonexistent.

In his debut during the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup against the JRU Heavy Bombers, Jumawan looked anything but new. “I was welcomed with open arms," he shared during halftime, speaking of how his team made him feel at home. 

Despite coming from American collegiate basketball, the Fil-Hawaiian guard quickly recognized the identity of the game in the Philippines. "It's more basketball IQ style here compared to the States," he said. "We play fast here."

From the opening whistle, Jumawan became the steady presence, giving the Growling Tigers exactly what they needed. But basketball has a way of testing belief, and by the fourth quarter, JRU had clawed its way back into the contest. Then came the final possession. UST trailed by two with only seconds remaining.

Fresh out of the timeout, the players huddled around coaches Japs Cuan and Bam Ledesma before making their way back onto the floor. Even from the sidelines, the tension was unmistakable. The exhaustion showed in every deep breath as Kirk Cañete, Charles Esteban, Andrew Chio, Racine Kane, and Landyn Jumawan prepared for one final chance.

The bench fell silent. Then, almost as a prayer spoken into existence, Coach Bam audibly whispered the words, "Sana makathree points tayo”.  Five seconds later, those words became reality.

The inbound from Cañete found Jumawan's hands. Despite the pressure that filled the hardwood, Jumawan took the shot and even gained an and-one opportunity. UST, down by two, now up by one, thanks to Jumawan’s heroic moment. 

While the crowd erupted, the moment felt strangely familiar to the man who had just delivered it. "Before I already knew, coming out of the huddle, I knew I was going to shoot that last shot and it was going to go in," Jumawan revealed afterward. "All the boys and all my coaches said, we trust in you. Go take the last shot. Let's win this game.”

That trust was perhaps the most remarkable part of the story. It was earned not even a season together, nor through months of chemistry, but only less than a week.

For a team searching for its next leader, the game-winning three was more than just a highlight, it was an early glimpse of what trust can become when it is given freely and repaid without hesitation.

One game into his UST journey, Landyn Jumawan had already done more than an introduction. He gave the Growling Tigers, and the Thomasian community a reason to believe that the next chapter may already be here.