By: Paolo Manuel C. Fule
His towering height and pretty boy looks can turn the head of any Louis Lane on his way, but this 6’ 2” Senior High School student from Hope Christian High School has more to offer in the hard court than just his boy-next-door image.
HCHS’s so-called ‘Superman’, the shooting guard who dons jersey # 15 Ken Mark Miranda has played for several tournaments including FilOil Flying V, Metro Manila Basketball League
(MMBL), Las Pinas Private Schools Athletic Association (LAPRISSA) where he was awarded as the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), and now in the Pilipinas Chinese Amateur Basketball League (PCABL).
Born Ken Mark C. Miranda on April 1, 1996, in Cardona, Rizal, to Raffy Miranda and Marivic C. Miranda, the cager is on his way to pursue his dream in the world of hoops sports.
No Kryptonite hindered SuperMark from draining shots in his basketball games. In his MMBL game against Ateneo de Manila University, he scored 40 points and 8 rebounds with 6 assists while he poured in 20 points against the Adamson University also in the same tourney. In their FilOil tournament against the Mapua Institute of Technology, he scored 16 points, 9 boards and 2 steals. In his last games, Ken Mark averages 29.25 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4 assists per game. This guy’s stats speak volumes of his talent as a future playmaker and star player in the big basketball leagues of this country.
On February 7 of this year, the Las Pinas Private Schools Association (LAPRISSA) handed out its Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in their high school basketball tournament to Ken Mark Miranda. He is currently playing in the PCABL for Hope Christian High School where he pitched in 13 points, 20 rebounds and 1 block in his last game against UPHSD. “I’d like to thank God and my family for this achievement. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. Thank you also for all those who supported me and my teammates.” quipped the beaming cager of Hope Christian who hails from Pangasinan province.
In the PBA, he looks up to the reigning Governor’s Cup and All-Filipino Cup champion team San Mig Coffee Mixers, and one of its star players, Peter Jun “The Scoring Apostle” Simon. “Sobrang galing niya, magaling yung skills at matalino siya maglaro” said Ken Mark. In the
NBA, he likes the 4-time Regular Season MVP and now Cleveland Cavaliers superstar Lebron James and the young squad of Golden State Warriors. “I like Lebron James as a player because he doesn’t only work for his points but also for his team. He assists, he blocks, he scores, and
he steals. He is an all-around player.” said Kenmark. His ambition in life is to make it big someday in basketball leagues like the PBA so he can help his family.
With his persistent training and love for the game, Ken Mark’s vision is not far-fetched to become a reality in the future. He is currently in the roster of the Junior team that will play for this year’s PSSBC for multi-titled Hope Christian High School. Playing for his respective school is a privilege in itself, but helping them to make his team at the top of their game is also another achievement that he always likes to share with the rest of his teammates. May SuperMark be a true hero inside and outside of the basketball court and be a good role model for the young to emulate.
* Photos by: Chalk Magazine and Mr. Warner David
Email the author at paolomanuelfule@yahoo.com