Highly touted big man Geo Chiu enters the PBA Season 50 Draft boasting of experiences with Gilas Pilipinas and in the Japan B.LEAGUE.
Geo Chiu wore a face mask like it was 2020 as he joined the rest of the PBA aspirants on the first day of the Draft Combine Thursday, Sept. 4.
Struck with cough and colds, Chiu was reduced to a spectator as his fellow hopefuls strutted their wares in front of scouts and coaches at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The former Ateneo big man did not hide his joy at being a step closer to his dream of playing in the league.
“Entering the PBA has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid. Like looking back, it's something I really wanted to fulfill,” Chiu said.
“And sakto rin naman 'yong opportunity ngayon. And siguro I just wanted to be close to my family also. It's something na medyo mahirap kasi when you're abroad, eh.”
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The 6-foot-8 Chiu enters the draft as a highly touted slotman in the 128-man pool boasting a wealth of experience with Gilas Pilipinas and later as an import in Japan B.LEAGUE’s B2.
But Chiu knows that does not guarantee him anything.
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Now he leaves his fate in the hands of the coaches come the PBA Draft Sunday, Sept. 7.
“I mean, no matter what happens, I'm just really grateful. That's something na hindi natin control, 'di ba? Kami naman, for me and my family, ini-embrace na lang namin. Whatever the outcome is, we'll accept it,” Chiu said.
"'Yong ibang reporters, they're asking me if there's any team na I would want to play for. I was like, wherever I get drafted, I have to accept it, and I will have no problem playing anywhere. Parang kami, naghihintay lang din naman kami sa draft nila, wherever we land.”