TWO PAIRS of Tiger siblings have been making waves in two contrasting events in the UAAP Season 78, proving that blood is indeed thicker than water and talent sometimes becomes inherent and contagious.
The Busmion brothers provided the spark the UST Golden Booters needed for a breakthrough season, while the Concio sisters are core members of the UST Woodpushers campaign.
Despite the great disparity between their upbringing in sports, football and chess, both the Busmions and Concios entered their respective careers at a young age and has since lived their lives patterned through the games.
Brothers in the midfield
Growing up in a community where football is the most famous sport, Darwin and Dionisio Busmion first played the game when they were elementary students in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo City.
“Nainspire ako kasi dati sa lugar namin may dumadalaw na taga ibang lugar tulad ng Guam [football team], pumupunta doon sa lugar namin [para] maglaro ng football. [‘Yung] Army, Air Force [football teams at] halos lahat ng mga national team dati doon naglalaro kaya parang na-inspire din kami,” the 20-year-old Darwin said.
Iloilo is dubbed as the “Football Capital of the Philippines,” where the likes of former national team members Emilio “Chieffy” Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Roel Gener, Yanti Barsales and Richard Becite III learned the sport.
Despite learning football at an early age, the Physical Education junior Darwin mentioned he initially wanted to play sepak takraw but he lacked height which led him to try football.
The Busmions first participated in inter-municipal open leagues before joining the annualPalarong Pambansa competition where they became teammates during high school.
As they matured in playing football, both began to look up to the international superstars David Beckham, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and Azkals players Araneta and Caligdong.
Playing with each other for many years, Dionisio and Darwin have developed their on-pitch chemistry and trust which is evident during games when the two connect with their midfield exploits.
“Minsan pinapagalitan ko siya sa field kasi hindi lumalaban e,” the 21-year-old Dionisio said of his younger brother.
It was during the Palaro Pambansa in Dumaguete where the younger Busmion’s skills were discovered by fellow Ilonggo and current UST head coach Marjo Allado. Dionisio tried out for UST and made the Golden Booters’ lineup in 2013.
With both players currently in their third playing year, Dionisio said he still needs to work on his defense while Darwin cited he has to develop his aggressiveness on the offensive end of the pitch.
As of press time, the Golden Booters are on top of the standing, ahead of last season’s finalists La Salle and Far Eastern University.
‘Two queens’
Meanwhile, Chess runs through the blood of Michaela and Michella Concio as they learned the ropes of the sport under the tutelage of their father, a casual tournament player.
Both of them are in the UST’s line-up in the on-going UAAP Season 78 chess tournament—the younger Michella is on her fourth playing year while Michaela is on her third. They also have a younger brother in the Team B of the men’s squad.
The 20-year old Michella started playing competitively when she was in grade four and won her first major tournament in 2008, topping the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship in her first national tournament.
Despite starting playing competitive chess later in high school, the older Michaela exhibited the same chess IQ, representing Laguna in the regional athletic meet in 2009.
“Di ko in-expect na first time ko tapos aabot ako sa ganung level. Simula noon sinasali na kami ng tatay ko sa mga tournaments,” the older Concio told the Varsitarian.
Their father, Michael, also tapped Asian International Master Rodolfo Tan to personally train the sisters in 2011.
“Kailangan mo din talagang mag-invest para sa future mo. Ganun ‘yung ginawang style ng tatay namin, nag-invest siya [sa chess],” Michaela said.
Both of them admitted having first considered enrolling in the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños campus for their college education, with it being nearer to their home.
However, UP Los Baños’ lack of chess program and scholarship proved to be the deciding factor in choosing UST.
“Naisip ko sayang ‘yung pinaghirapan ko ng high school na hindi ko din magagamit kung papasok kami sa UPLB,” Michaela said.
It was not all glory though for the Concios as their family experience financial hardships throughout their lives. Unsurprisingly, they leaned on to chess to get over the hump.
“[Chess] na yung buhay namin. Iyan na ‘yung nagpaaral sa amin. May time dati na ‘yung tatay namin pumupunta siya sa ibang lugar para lang may kainin kami sa isang araw, para makasurvive kami sa isang araw,” Michaela said.
Now, they give back to the community by providing free chess clinics every summer in hopes of helping young children live their dreams through the sport.
“’Yun talaga gusto ng tatay naming, tumulong sa iba,” Michella said. “Ito na ‘yung simplest way namin para tumulong sa iba,” Michaela added.
