BESIDES talent and impact, players with size and multi-skills, stand a good chance among PBA Draft aspirants.
Philip Manalang, a 5-foot-10 sentinel out of University of the East, is eager to prove he belongs to play in the big league. His name is barely mentioned in the list of potential draftees in what is probably the deepest draft cast in years.
But Manalang is keeping his fingers crossed that he would be given the opportunity to showcase his potential.
"Naisip ko rin na baka mahirapan ako kasi ang daming pumasok para magpa-draft. Tapos puro kilala yung mga nagpa-draft ngayon, may mga Fil-Ams, may mga locals, naipon eh," Manalang told PBA.ph.
"Yung mga hindi nagpa-draft last season, ngayon sila nagpa-draft. Pero siyempre, naniniwala pa rin ako sa sarili ko at parati pa rin akong nagpi-pray."
Sponsored content:
Basketball has evolved through the years with big players flexible enough to play multiple positions.
The game's landscape has become a lot more challenging to players like Manalang, who still believes players like him can still crack a roster spot.
"Yung mga trainer ko, sinasabihan nila ako na dagdagan ko yung katawan ko kasi medyo malalaki yung makakalaban ko sa PBA," added Manalang. "Kaya sinamantala namin yung pandemic, lagi kaming nagwo-work out. Hindi naman kami tumigil."
After his playing career with the UE Red Warriors, Manalang played for the PBA D-League's AMA Online Titans and the Basilan Steel in the MPBL and proved his steady presence playing the point guard spot.
(RJ)
