This is my sports feature article for our school paper. Chris is the sports personality featured. Hope you can read it.
Chris Tiu: On Being a Basketball Player, Student, Leader, Entrepreneur, and a Role Model
We all know this person as a good collegiate basketball standout, a host in some T.V. shows and stepping as well on the commercial and modeling prospect. Let’s find out more on basketball superstar Chris Tiu.
Born Christopher John Alandy-Dy Tiu on July 15, 1985 to Jerry and Lianne Tiu, Chris, whom we popularly know him, is really popular nowadays in the midst of the championship experienced by the Ateneo De Manila University this 71st Season of the UAAP. He is the 2nd among five siblings that he also reflects his being ‘kuya’ to his teammates being the captain of the champion team. He will leave his footsteps on his 5th and final year of playing in the collegiate scene.
He played a career-high season this year averaging 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game after the elimination round, worthy enough to join in the Mythical Team for the second straight year.
Winning also the PSBank Maaasahan Player of the Year and the hero of Game 2 in their clash against their arch-rivals De La Salle Green Archers, Chris, himself, says that he is already fulfilled and his college life is considered complete.
He also told that he was lucky to join and lead the best team he has played with guys such as the MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, defensive specialist and Finals MVP Nonoy Baclao, Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe and the whole squad that dominated the UAAP Men’s Basketball which is a great honor to him being the captain.
According to their head coach Norman Black, “Obviously, Chris’ stats are great but that’s not how his value on the team is gauged. It’s his leadership. He didn’t have to come back because he’s graduated but Chris returned anyway because he wanted to win a championship.”
His unselfishness in terms of giving his teammates confidence and chance to shoot together with his heroic and leadership acts all paid off.
Aside from being a basketball player, Chris is also studying in his second course, which is B.S. Applied Mathematics, Major in Mathematical Finance, Minor in Chinese Studies at the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) in Ateneo. He took up B.S. Management Engineering also in JGSOM graduating cum-laude. He even flew to Paris, France for 6 months in the Lille Catholic University, all part of the exchange student program.
Although being busy with all his work, Chris doesn’t have special privileges on his teachers. According to him, he strives hard to catch up with their lessons, do good in exams, and when he’s absent, he completes all his requirements to maintain his status as a Dean’s Lister.
The 23-year-old Chris also does hosing jobs on TV, particularly on GMA 7. He co-hosts Manny Pacquiao in Pinoy Records which is aired on Saturdays and he solo-hosts Ripley’s Believe It or Not! during Mondays. He also endorsed products on TV and print, such as Nesvita Oatmeal 3 in 1, Active White L-Glutathione, Master Facial Cleanser, Adidas, Hanford Ice, Clear Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, and Sector Watches.
Surprisingly, for those who don’t know it, Chris is also a Barangay Kagawad at their place in Urdaneta Village in Makati City where he also served as the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman for 5 years. In his political side, Chris focuses in giving service to people in their neighborhood is deeply concerned with poverty issues, status of our government, and the standing of education.
Having a business is also not new to Chris Tiu. He owns a food business named “Chinky Chickens” which is located in JGSOM Student Enterprise Center (JSEC), Ateneo’s first and only student-run mall. Delectable and affordable meals especially for the Ateneans are what they serve in this food stall. Their best-seller according to Chris is Crispy Adobo Flakes while Chicken Curry is the most popular which is also craved by his brother Charles. Other delicious stuff there are Chicken Teriyaki, Chicken Soy, and Chicken Lollipops. To Chris, Chinky Chickens means “quality service and satisfaction.”
Being a role model too is evident in the Xavier School personality. He encourages people, specifically students to strive hard in their education, try to balance their time, work hard, sacrifice if necessary, strictly follow your priorities and don’t forget to thank God for your blessings. “Ad Majorem Dei Gloiram,” “For the Greater Glory of God” in English wants us to not forget God on what we do and what we accomplish because all of these came from Him.
Facts about Chris Tiu:
Full Name: Christopher John Alandy-Dy Tiu
Birthday: July 15, 1985 (23 years of age)
Parents: Jerry Tiu and Lianne Tiu
Siblings: Cheryl, Charles, Christine, and Christian
School: Ateneo de Manila University, specifically John Gokongwei School of Management
Course (current): B.S. Applied Mathematics, Major in Mathematical Finance, Minor in Chinese Studies
High School: Xavier School, San Juan City
Jersey Number: 17
Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 5’11
Weight: 170 lbs.
Interesting Data about Chris:
Favorite Food: Foie Gras Salad with Goose Liver
Favorite Fruit: Banana
Favorite Vegetables: Chinese spinach, lettuce, and those green vegetables (He’s a salad lover.)
Favorite Hideaway: Tagaytay Highlands
Favorite Subject: Chinese
Favorite Foreign Destinations so far: Salzburg, Austria and Vancouver, Canada
Favorite Performers: Jay Chou, Il Divo
Favorite Actor: Brad Pitt
Favorite Actress: Julia Roberts
Favorite Movies: Pretty Woman, Seabiscuit, Gladiator
Favorite Basketball Players: Steve Nash, Michael Jordan, Jason Kidd
Local Celebrity Crush: Heart Evangelista
Did you know….?
· Chris was a studio player in GMA 7’s past show, Kakasa ka bas a Grade 5? where he was the first one to enter in the P1,000,000.00 round.
· He made the winning shot when they won the championship in the Nike Summer League this year.
· After their championship against La Salle, he was seen on a lot of TV guestings and other activities.
· He enjoys playing the piano. Actually, he learned playing when he was 7.
· He was also a member of the Mythical Team and the champion team back in his High School career as a Xavier Stallion.
· He won the Bantay Bata UAAP-NCAA All-Star Games 3-point shootout on 2004 and 2006.
· He is a recipient of the Xavier award, Leadership award, Magis award, Academic excellence, Diligence awards, and he was also the Student Council Vice President when he was in High School.
· He likes girls who are simple, sweet, humble, and smart.
· Xavier Basketball Academy was his first training camp in basketball back in grade school.
· He wears a whopping size 12 shoes for basketball and size 11 for walking.
· His chinky eyes and boyish looks made him compared to Rico Yan.
· He chose #17 in his jersey in college because it was a lucky number according to him. He said that he did very well when he started playing with this number and he even won an MVP award when he played for SBP.
· He was a member of the 2002 RP Youth training pod and the National pod for the 2007 SEAG.
· A lot of aliases have been give to him, like “TIUperman,” “TIUnami,” and many more. His favorite day is “TIU’s day” (He was just kidding.)
· He was offered for the GMA movie “Ouija”, being the partner of Rhian Ramos but he declined it. He was also offered a basketball show in Channel 5 and the show Y-Speak.
· He sleeps with four pillows, a long one, 2 rectangular ones, and a small one.
· He is a positive thinker, optimistic, an organized person, well planned, and wants everything in place, said Chris in an interview.
Sources:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/christiu
http://www.freewebs.com/ayuminakamura
http://www.fabilioh.com
http://www.gmanews.tv
Jane! Thanks again.
JM
:))
