NCAA: What San Beda's Daniel Marcelo learned from his late grandpa and carried into the game - GMA Network

Daniel Marcelo turned in one of his best performances in a San Beda jersey on Thursday, tying his season-high with 16 points to lead the Red Lions past Mapua University, 61-57, in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament.

Asked about his performance, the 23-year-old Marcelo became emotional as he shared that Thursday also marked the birth anniversary of his late grandfather, who passed away in 2017.

“I think today, it goes, by far, beyond basketball for me. It's my lolo's birthday,” Marcelo said during the press conference.

“This was, you know, not just for me, but for the team, but also just making him proud. And I know that he's looking up from above... Not just for me, but my whole family. Not just my whole family, but my San Beda team, which is also my other family.”

“Today was just a very emotional day for me. This game was just bigger than basketball,” he said.

Marcelo shared that he had a close relationship with his grandfather.

During their vacations in Tarlac, the Canada-based Marcelo said he would spend his mornings with his lolo.

“We always had a routine of us waking up early in the morning, getting lugaw every single day in the bayan (town proper). Things like that, I really cherish those moments,” Marcelo told GMA News Online.

“And I really want to, especially for today on his birthday, just make him proud, knowing that I still think about him, I still care about him.”

As he continues to earn minutes in the San Beda rotation, Marcelo said he simply makes the most of every opportunity given to him — a lesson he also learned from his grandfather.

“The greatest lesson for me is just don't take anything for granted. No matter how bad your day is going, just make sure to live your life to the fullest and let God handle everything else.”