By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Jaime Olivarez wasn’t reaching far when he likened Julian Abrego to the Energizer Bunny.
Edinburg Economedes’ 6-foot-3 post player has juggled a hefty load the past couple of years, from taking six AP classes his junior season to taking two courses at UTPA, working after school as a store model at Hollister and practicing at least four nights a week with a personal trainer.
“He’s a guy that wants to go the extra mile,” his coach, Olivarez, said. “He just gets water and he’s ready to go back in. He just keeps going.”
Abrego is third in his class with a 4.0 grade-point average. He’s also a three-year starter at Economedes, and without a doubt their most productive player.
He’s averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds per game this season. And he has also taken it upon himself to guard the opposing team’s top players.
“He doesn’t shy away from it,” Olivarez said. “He’s got a lot of roles that he takes on for us.”
As the central figure on the team, Abrego understands plenty falls on his shoulders, especially in the Jaguars’ quest to make the playoffs. They’ve fallen short the past couple of seasons, finishing fifth in 2012 and sixth in 2013.
And this year, with only three players returning, Economedes is tasked with its biggest challenge yet — turning the tide on a 1-8 start following a 73-61 loss to La Joya Palmview in the Craig Smith Tournament on Thursday.
“It’s not easy,” Abrego said. “But we’re getting our humble pie, I guess you could say, handed to us early. We’re learning what it’s like to take the losses, hoping to convert them for wins.”
Abrego spent part of the offseason refining his skills as an inside player. He spent time playing at the park or a friend’s house, taking part in 1-on-1 games into the wee hours.
It was a concerted effort to pick up on his teammates’ tendencies for those moments he’s away from the group, focusing on academics. Picking up the playbook, after all, comes easy to him.
“I’m a quick learner,” he said. “We’ll run a play two times and I’ll know it.”
Perhaps more than anything, defense has been a concern. Economedes intends to apply a full-court press, but it has struggled at times with a few breakdowns, sometimes in communication and other times conditioning.
“There’s times we get tired, we don’t box out and they outrebound us and get put-backs,” said Roy Miranda, a four-year teammate of Abrego. “We’re not talking as much as we should be. We know a noisy gym is a winning gym, so that contributes to it a lot.”
The Jaguars aren’t worried. The idea, for now, is that with time with Economedes will incorporate all these pieces and mesh together.
“Everyone wants to win, especially the kids,” Olivarez said. “As far as me, from my coaching standpoint, it’s just getting better and being prepared for district play. The playoffs aren’t won in November and December; we want to win in January and February.
“As long as we make strides on the court, that’s what’s important.”
On Thursday, Abrego contributed 10 points and six rebounds, relegated to the bench for the entire second quarter after picking up three fouls in the opening period.
Today, Economedes plays Zapata at 10:30 a.m. and Laredo Alexander at 6 p.m. And while the Jaguars would very much enjoying battling for a tournament title, Abrego’s hoping his team can continue growing.
“I believe these losses are learning lessons, to keep cool, to stay focused, to stay determined. It isn’t easy, but you learn from them each and every game,” he said. “There’s a way to get better. There’s a way to improvement your game. There’s a way to grow as a team. I believe that’s what this is showing us right now.”
“We just tell ourselves to believe in each other,” he added. “As long as we get better each and every day, we take that. Even if we lose by 80 and learn from it, that’s what counts.”