LINGAYEN - This guy is not an ordinary athlete. He is not only the defending men's long jump champion in the National Private Schools and Athletics Association Games, but also the spitfire off the bench of the Western Visayas basketball team here.

Rechie Javillo, 22, will not only try to retain his title in the men's long jump of the National PRISAA Games at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Oval here Tuesday, but will also be an integral part of the Western Visayas men's basketball team's bid to bring home the crown.

Already on his graduating year at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Javillo said he will give more importance to basketball in this year's national meet, but at the same time do his best to keep his men's long jump gold.

"I am prioritizing basketball because I want to achieve something in the sport, but I am also not taking for granted my event in athletics," Javillo,

who only started playing basketball for his varsity team in 2004, told the DAILY STAR.

Javillo, a Management major, began his career in athletics when he was in his fifth grade, but has been a member of the UNO-R Rams men's basketball squad for the past two years after Recoletos coach Ireneo Morales discovered his talents during a practice game.

The 5'6" Javillo, who will be the substitute of Region VI starting point guard Stanley Tizon of West Negros College, said it is not difficult to play long jump and basketball at the same time because the two disciplines have a lot in common.

"Basketball and long jump are related. Both sports involve speed and jumping so the preparations are not that hard," Javillo, who hails from Brgy. Alangilan, said.

Javillo is the sixth among seven children with his basketball scholarship becoming the primary support for his educational needs. Javillo said he will try his luck with the Philippine athletics team after graduation.

He said he will do everything to help the WV cagers claim the title, adding that it would be tough to defend his long jump gold because the pressure is on him.

"It is really not tough to mix the two sports because I enjoy them and once you feel the enjoyment, you will not feel tired," Javillo said.

"For my long jump competitions, including the National PRISAA Games, I practice one month before the hostilities, but I train everyday for basketball because it is a team game," he added.

Javillo was a member of the Negros basketball team that won the Regional PRISAA Games in Bacolod City in December last year, and was also a gold medalist in men's long jump. *CIT

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