Noah Macalalad has seen firsthand the great history of Winnipeg Wesmen point guards, and he wants to be the next.
Macalalad, a 5-foot-9 point guard from Maples Collegiate and Central Canada Prep, is the next member of head coach Mike Raimbault's Winnipeg Wesmen recruiting class of 2025.
He will study Criminal Justice and have five years of eligibility.
Macalalad has had the opportunity to play under former Wesmen guards Suk Singh (Attack Basketball) and Nick Lother (CCP) and had a front-row seat to watch the accomplishments of three-time all-conference guard Shawn Maranan, a player whose career Macalalad hopes to emulate.
"I watched him play and develop into the player he is today and it made me want to be like that too," Macalalad said. "Just the way he plays, how he sees the game."
Macalalad teased his commitment to the Wesmen on his own social media and that drew out numerous supporters, one of which was Maranan, who quipped "Wesmen getting a good one."
Macalalad appreciated the words from a player he looks up to.
"I've watched Sean since my Grade 10 year and, yeah, it's a really, really good feeling having someone like him compliment you like that."
Macalalad was ranked No. 3 in the annual Winnipeg Free Press coaches poll last month and was the No. 2-ranked guard. He was on last year's U17 provincial team and was teammates with fellow 2025 commits Paul Ogweno and Jayden Westerlund.
At 5-9, Macalalad says he continues to play with a chip on his shoulder as a ball-pressuring guard who wants to play above his size.
He said Coach Raimbault made it clear that's the type of player he needs him to be.
"The first time I ever talked to (Raimbault), he told me, 'Being an undersized guard, you have to pressure the ball.' He told me coming in for my first year just be a defensive pest, just cause havoc on the other teams' ball-handlers."
Raimbault likes Macalalad's addition to his backcourt that features strong depth in the lead guard position.
"Noah is an exciting addition to the program," Raimbault said. "He is a very focused and dedicated young man who we expect to continue developing within over his years with the Winnipeg Wesmen."
And Macalalad feels like he's achieved a goal he set out for himself years ago.
"Ever since I started taking basketball seriously, U of W was always a goal of mine to play at," he said. "It's a winning program, being nationally ranked the last few years. And I think my play style fits best in their system.
"It's an amazing feeling, especially like being an undersized guard. There's not lots of Filipino, 5-9 guards who play at the next level. It's like a dream, man."