WHEN I see Jordan Sta. Ana, I think of a talented and exciting scoring swingman. But when I also see him, I think of him as Philippine college basketball’s equivalent of former National Basketball Association player Paul Shirley.
Shirley gained notoriety for playing for 13 different professional basketball teams all over the world… in a span of seven years. He chronicled this strange odyssey in a candid and insightful best-selling book titled, Can I Keep My Jersey?
Jordan, named after the Chicago Bulls’ all-time great by his father, has moved zip codes five times since being recruited out of Colegio de San Benildo in high school.
After impressing in the Metro Manila Basketball League, National University recruited him to join their Bullpups team. That squad made the finals but lost to Ateneo who were led by the Nieto brothers.
In college, he first donned the colors of the University of the East (UE) under Derrick Pumaren where he formed an exciting backcourt corps tandem with Paul Manalang and Fran Yu.
That didn’t last and he moved down the road from Recto to España where he formed a fearsome duo with Marvin Lee. His scoring exploits and penchant for big shots especially late in the game gave Growling Tiger fans something to cheer for and looking forward to in the next seasons.
Even former University of Santo Tomas (UST) star Japs Cuan raved about Sta. Ana calling him a younger version of his former teammate Jojo Duncil.
After one sterling season at UST, he de-camped. The reasons differ depending on who you speak with.
He next surfaced playing for Letran in the D-League with Fran Yu who also had left UE.
Two years after the pandemic hit the world, Sta. Ana is now 24-year-old and with the Arellano University Chiefs.
The Chiefs have this journeyman story. Aside from Sta. Ana, they have two other UST refugees in Gelo Sablan and Justin Arana. They also have former Emilio Aguinaldo College star Maui Cruz who mysteriously dropped in the pecking order and soon left.
All four have similar stories to tell. Recruited by other schools, they transferred or stayed put, then things didn’t work out. And now, they have one more chance to show their wares.
Arana and Sablan have given a good account of themselves the last time there was college ball. Now, the onus is on Jordan (and Maui) to show what they’ve got. Or, what they have still got.
“Of course I’m glad I’m back,” shared Sta. Ana who admitted to some regret to his constant movement that can sometimes lead to a bad reputation.
“Maybe, this is my fate. What’s important though is I am learning my lessons,” he said. “At 24, I’ve already been through a lot—success and disappointments. Hopefully, I approach things more maturely now.”
This season with the Arellano Chiefs, Jordan is offering his efforts to his late mother who passed away last year due to a non-Covid-19 illness.
“Mama pushed me to do my best but I feel bad she won’t be able to watch this NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association]. I’ll do my best to fulfill her wishes—that I’m here fighting hoping to be in the PBA [Philippine Basketball Association].”
For now, he is focused on the Chiefs’ campaign this NCAA Season 97.
“This chance with Arellano… it’s like my last chance,” he thought to himself. He clearly doesn’t want to fall into that category of “could have beens” and “wasted chances.”
In his young life, he’s seen that happen to many a teammate. He knows there is still time to do something special.
However, like in everything that has happened since he left San Benildo, Jordan Sta. Ana has attacked everything thrown his way with a lot of optimism.
“I will do my best,” he promised. He has worked on his shooting and has slimmed down while building body strength. No doubt to help him when he makes those numerous kamikaze drives to the basket.
After all, he was named after the GOAT who made two comebacks. Except for Sta. Ana, he is on his fourth. It is possible that this too may be the proverbial charm.