EVEN Christian Balagasay was surprised with where he was picked in the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft.
Columbian took the seldom-used Letran center as the last selection in the first round, raising eyebrows in one of the most unpredictable draft classes in league history.
Taken ahead of his more illustrious Knights peers in Jerrick Balanza, who fell to Ginebra a pick after in the second round, and Bonbon Batiller, who slid to the Dyip in the third round — that's where the confused looks came from.
Truth be told, it also baffled the 6-foot-8 Balagasay.
"Nabigla ako na nauna ako sa dalawa," he said.
Balagasay, though, wants to show that he belongs, especially after he turned heads during the combine which he believes led to him impressing the Columbian coaches.
"Gusto kong i-prove na worthy ako sa spot na kinuha ako. Kailangan ko patunayan na karapat-dapat ako sa first round," he said, taking it as a challenge to also provide the goods as fellow frontliners like Blackwater's Maurice Shaw, Alaska's Barkley Ebona, and Magnolia's Aris Dionisio.
Criticisms may be thrown his way, but Balagasay knows that nobody can take away his pedigree being part of two NCAA champion teams in Letran.
"Yung championship experience, alam ko na malaking tulong sa akin kung bakit ako nandito. Kaya ginagawa ko lang yung part ko para ipakita sa kanila na kaya ko pa rin hanggang dito," he said.
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Source: Spin PH
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