LJay Gonzales is among the standouts in the recently concluded PBA Season 50 Draft Combine, where his team made the finals of the pocket tournament.
From working out with four different PBA teams, to playing in the MPBL, and to strutting his wares in the Draft Combine, it has been a taxing week for LJay Gonzales.
But Gonzales did not mind.
“Nakakapagod pero kailangan talaga para sa pangarap din,” said Gonzales.
“Sobrang happy ako na ito na 'yong pangarap ko sa buhay, matutupad na. Na-e-enjoy ko lang ang process. Itutuloy ko lang 'yong ginagawa ko.”
[RELATED STORY: Jude Codiñera, son of PBA legend Jerry, wants to make name for himself as he joins draft]
Gonzales is among the over 120 hopefuls who threw their names into the draft set Sunday, Sept. 7.
After his stint with Far Eastern University in the UAAP, Gonzales made the jump to the MPBL before deciding it was finally time to take his talents to the first play-for-pay league in Asia.
Now, he looks forward to joining his former college teammates in RJ Abarrientos and Xyrus Torres in the league. Both have made a splash in their rookie year with Ginebra and NLEX, respectively.
“Lagi nila akong binibiro na ‘Dapat, last year, sabay-sabay tayo.’ Naiinggit nga ako sa kanila, nakapaglalaro na sila sa PBA,” Gonzales said.
“Ako naman, ito na siguro ang time kong makalaro against them na mga teammates ko. Sobrang happy kong nakikita ko silang naglalaro sa PBA. Ang ganda ng ginagawa nila.”
[RELATED STORY: Journeyman Juan Gomez de Liaño feels it’s ‘perfect time’ to come home, joins PBA Draft]
Gonzales is expected to be picked early in Sunday’s proceedings, which will have Terrafirma, Converge and Blackwater making the first three selections, respectively.
He said he is ready to embrace whatever the results may be.
“I-e-enjoy ko lang. Kung ano mang result, kung kulang pa ako, tatrabahuhin ko 'yong kailangan kong trabahuhin,” Gonzales said.