This college basketball star wants to become a lawyer

Like any other basketball player, Sam Marata dreams of having a long, successful professional career at the sports that has been part of his life since childhood. But if, for whatever reason, that does not work out, there's another court he can always go to.

Marata wants to become a lawyer, that's why he's taking up psychology at the De La Salle University, where he plays as shooting guard for the UAAP. Not surprisingly, he is perpetually balancing school work and practice time.

With La Salle celebrating its 100 years since its foundation in the country, Marata admits to feeling more pressure to grabbing the championship trophy this year.

“We try to play our best every game and hope for the best results,” said the 22-year-old basketball player.  “Now, more than ever, we train and practice hard so the whole team is in prime condition.”

During UAAP season, training could be tedious. The 16 members of the La Salle team goes to training every day, after school hours (usually 4 or 5pm) for three to four hours, where they do drills, exercises, and practice games.

With his busy schedule, Marata said he'd rather just stay at home and relax during his leisure times. When time permits, he goes to the movies or watch shows like “How I met your mother” and “Entourage” on TV. He also like spends quite a lot of time playing NBA or FIFA video games on his PS3.

Marata isn't the biggest party animal either. A month or two before UAAP season, he avoids parties as he knows drinking and all-nighters won't do him any favors. Luckily for him, his friends know this exactly so there is no pressure for him to party all night long.

“But when it's off season (for UAAP) and I have more free time, I prefer to go to the beach,” said Marata, who, at 6-feet-3-inches is one of the tallest guys in his team. “I love to travel, too, if the opportunity presents itself.”

Marata grew up with basketball in his DNA—with a father, Tata Marata, a PBA star during his time; and two uncles and a cousin who also played for the professional basketball league, he was bound to love the game himself.

But he insists his father never forced him to play. In fact, it wasn't until he was in high school at the UP Intergrated School in Diliman where he took the game seriously. Back then, he was at 5-foot-six-inches, already one of the taller ones in his team.

Asked why he didn't join the Maroons, and instead went to the Archers, he said a factor was that the latter was first to approach and recruit him. Plus, he said, a change of environment looked attractive.

Today, three seasons of playing for the Archers, Marata admits it still feels weird whenever he sees himself on TV, during replays of the UAAP games. But, somehow, he had grown accustomed to it.

One of the more popular players in his team, Marata has hundreds of fans—on and off court.

“A lot of times, people ask to have their pictures taken with me after the game. They also give me food, especially sweets and I like it,” he said.

But he does try to limit eating sweets, and avoid consuming soda and junk foods.

While his basketball idol remains to be the great Michael Jordan, Marata is thankful he has a dad that gives him moral support and even advice on how to improve his skills.

“My dad gives me tips but at the same time he knows we have our own capable coach so he just throws his moral support to me and the whole team. He tries to watch our game as often as he can,” Marata said.

With his good looks and impressive skills, Marata has also been asked to endorse a couple of brands. Right now, he has a billboard up in EDSA for Gatorade. With several of his teammates, he also endorses Nike.

With a hectic schedule (it's finals week for La Salle right now), the secret to doing everything, he said, is time management. He said: “I've got an excellent support system [in his family, friends, and girlfriend, fans] and that I am thankful for.”