How Paulo Medina Brought the Blue Eagles’ Winning Ways to NBA 2K
Fun fact. Did you guys know that the 22-year-old BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship used to be a student manager with the title clinching Ateneo Blue Eagles Men’s Basketball Team back in UAAP Season 85?
Not only that, but Paolo Medina has also implemented some of their real life on-court strategies in his 2K tactics to nab the first ever UAAP Championship in NBA 2K.
The man known as “Jedi” to most of his friends and family, has exhibited selflessness when it comes to giving credit to why he is in his current position today.
“I’ve been telling the team (Blue Eagles of Season 85), that he used this team principle that after you shoot a shot, you’re supposed to run back on defense immediately to stop the fast break of the opposing team. I brought that to 2k. When I shoot it, I run back immediately.” Added Medina.
True enough, this strategy was evident most especially in Game 3 of the UAAP NBA 2K finals when he used the Oklahoma City Thunder and secured a 74-63 win over De La Salle University’s Kegan Yap who was also considered a strong contender to win the whole tournament as well.
Looking back at the experience, everything felt like a dream for Medina considering that playing NBA 2K will bring prestige to Ateneo and earning a gold medal along the way.
“The past three days have been the craziest experience for me. It doesn’t feel real. When I was on stage, I’m thinking damn! This many people are tuning in and watching the games!” Medina mentioned.
Mentioning his teammates multiple times throughout the interview, Medina gave thanks to the clutch efforts of substitute Justin Lagac who came through with huge victories in Group A which ultimately pushed Paolo to the playoffs via the quotient system.
To add, Lagac was never supposed to be here. He really wanted to help out the team whenever they can at the start since Ateneo only planned on bringing two participants, mainly Medina and Luis Jovellanos.
“He was a buffalo!” stressed Medina.
A term made famous by the Ateneo MBT Season 85 squad where in their third stringers would play crucial key roles during their practices in order to mimic the opposing teams plays, they will be facing day in and day out.
Lagac was that guy. He would research the plays of the other competitors; give them the reps they need in order to be 1% better every day. The model teammate if we were to simplify it.
Here at All-Star Magazine, we got an exclusive 37-minute interview with Paolo Medina so if you all want to know his story, how he got into a NBA 2k team and what’s next for the sport, you are more than welcome to tune in.
