As we start yet another fun, fearless year, we also welcome a new crop of Cosmo Online Hunks! We want a fresh start for 2012, so we got a "fresh" college cutie who's barely been in the limelight in this way--not outside of the basketball court, that is. We're sure fans of the De La Salle Green Archers know very well who Arnold van Opstal is.

This actually isn't the first time you're seeing Arnold, or “AvO” to some, in Cosmo. On his first year of playing in the UAAP for DLSU (where he's an AB Economics freshman), the 20-year-old rookie already made it to Cosmo.ph's Top 10 list of the hottest college basketball players in the UAAP. And while the German-Dutch-Filipino "crush ng bayan" may have graced the covers and pages of sports magazines, this time in Cosmo.ph, you'll see Arnold like you've never seen him before: off the court and his basketball gear, wearing only his board shorts, and ready to make the poolside sizzle!

On his first week as our featured hottie, Arnold talks to us about moving to the Philippines from Sydney, his sport, and how he's handling the attention he's getting for it. Oh, don't forget to click through ALL his hot Week 1 photos--you'll thank us for it!

What was your life like before moving to the Philippines?

I came from Sydney and my life is different in a lot of ways. I was studying in a different environment. So when I moved here, everything changed, culture-wise, everything. I started playing basketball here and really enjoyed it.

Do you plan to stay?

Yeah, I’m planning to stay for my college life here. But after that, I’ll probably, if my dreams do come true, I’ll probably play pro overseas.

What's been your favorite UAAP experience so far?

My favorite UAAP experience so far probably has to be the Ateneo- La Salle game. Although we lost, I really enjoyed the intensity and the crowd, the crowd’s energy, I really loved that, I really enjoyed that.

How do you juggle academics and basketball training?

Oh, that’s really, really hard. It takes time to adjust, especially ‘cause it’s my first year and I kinda had to hand things out better. So you have to really have your schedule and you have to follow that. And you have to make sure that you get your work done even though you’re tired from training for four hours straight, so it’s really hard.

Are you getting a lot of attention now from girls at school?

Um, yeah, I guess so. People stare and people know me nowadays, so yeah, I guess. I got a love letter once, so yeah (laughs).

What’s the first thing people notice about you?

My height. That’s it, my height, first thing they notice. How tall I am. (Ed's note: He's 6’9”!)

What are your other hobbies or interests aside from basketball?

I love football. So since I’m German, in my blood, my first sport was football. So yeah, if I had another hobby, it’ll be football, another sport.

What’s a common misconception about you?

That I look scary and unfriendly, but I’m actually very friendly. (Ed's note: He's a gentle giant, girls! When you see him, don't be shy--approach him if you want to; he'd be really cool with it, he said.)

Back in July, you told us you were single, is that still true?

Right now, I'm taken, it changed. Well, dating.

Are you open to getting into a relationship?

If it happens, it happens.

What makes you a great catch?

I don’t know, but, probably my personality.

Watch for his second batch of hot photos and interview next Wednesday, January 11!


Shot on location at Discovery Suites, located at 25 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Contact 719-6931, 719-8888, 914-9888, or rsvn@discovery.com.ph for bookings and reservations.

Additional reporting and sittings editor: Trixie Reyna
Sittings editor: Jico Joson
 Makeup: Christine Rojas Lavina using Becca
Stylist: Camille Santiago
Intern: Darylle Mon-Alon

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