From the MANILA BULLETIN-June 6, 2008:
Ex-Green Archer Tang also has a heart of gold
By REY C. LACHICA
Aside from his court wizardry, one thing that La Salle community would be missing from former star guard TY Tang is his generosity.
Unknown to many, the 5-foot-7 Tang had given up his athletic scholarship plus meal and dormitory allowances in favor of some La Salle athletes who were not qualified for these privileges.
Apparently, being a La Salle athlete does not guarantee full scholarship, allowances and dormitory privileges.
Tang gave these up from the time he became a member of the De La Salle basketball team in 2003. At least four La Salle athletes reportedly benefited from Tang’s generosity.
Tang does not even know who the recipients were. He gave the decision to choose the beneficiaries to La Salle sports and academic officials.
Tang, who recently completed his five-year stint with De La Salle and capped it by winning the UAAP championship after sitting out one-year when the school was slapped a recruiting violation, said the perks don’t matter.
His goal, he said, was to be part of champion team and he achieved that objective last year.
“For me, being part of a La Salle basketball team is already a big achievement at saka mas masarap ang feeling mo kapag nakakatulong ka sa iba,” said the 23-year-old Tang.
He said the idea of giving up his scholarship came from his father, Rey.
“He told me to give up my scholarship and other privileges as an athletic scholar para may makinabang namang iba,” said Tang, who also played a key role in the last two championships of Harbour Centre in the PBL.
Tang’s generosity would have remained a secret if not for a Batangas priest who divulged this.
It was during Game 2 of the recent PBL best-of-five series between Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste in Tanauan City where Tang’s benevolence became a topic of discussion.
The priest approached PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad and told him about Tang and his gesture.
When contacted to confirm the priest’s story, Tang shyly admitted that indeed he had given his Scholarship in favor of other La Salle athletes.
“Apat na tao na raw po ang nabigyan ng tulong ng I-give up ko ang mga privileges ko. Sayang din naman kasi ang pagkakataon ng mga ibang naghihirap pero nagsisikap para makatapos. Isang karangalan na po sa akin ang maging student at athlete ng La Salle,” said Tang in a text message.
“Kahit na maliit na tulong lang po, masaya na rin po ang pakiramdam ko.”
A former La Salle teammate also disclosed that the only concession Tang asked from school management for giving up those privileges was to give him UAAP basketball tickets for his family.
“Ang alam ng marami ay mayroon siyang season ticket kasi mahilig manood ng basketball ang family niya,” said Albert Tirona. “Pero late na rin namin nalaman na binigay na ni TY ang kanyang privileges as a scholar. Kahit ngayong sikat na siya, tahimik pa rin siya.”
Upon confirming Tang’s story, the PBL gave him a Civic Consciousness Award.
“Very seldom na mangyari itong ginawa ni TY but I hope other rich athletes will follow what TY did,” said Trinidad.
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