Rookie forward Sonny Estil showed flashes of potential in his PBA debut but vowed to bring more energy as Barangay Ginebra seeks redemption after its Manila Clasico loss.
Ginebra rookie Sonny Estil made a promising first impression in his PBA debut.
The 6-foot-4 Estil tallied nine points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench during Ginebra’s 80-73 defeat to Magnolia in the Manila Clasico last Sunday.
Despite the solid numbers, Estil admitted the result soured what could’ve been a memorable debut.
“Wala lang masama kasi siyempre talo eh kahit pa gaano ka maganda ‘yung ginawa pero pag talo wala pa rin,” Estil told reporters after the match. “Okay tayo doon na maganda nangyari, ‘yung nalaro pero babawi lang kami sa susunod.”
Sonny Estil grabs the rebound during Ginebra's PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup opener against Magnolia. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
The 11th overall pick in the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft also bared that head coach Tim Cone didn’t mince words after the game, expressing frustration over the team’s lack of collective effort.
“Parang dalawa lang ang maglalaro. Pangit. Mas maganda lahat, kaya siguro nagalit si coach sa amin. Babawi na lang kami next game,” Estil shared.
Still, the 23-year-old forward remains optimistic and eager to build on his debut performance.
“Siyempre 'yun talaga ‘yung focus namin sa game kasi nandun ‘yung pressure pero pinili ko na lang labanan ‘yung pressure ngayon para magawa ako ng tama,” he said.
“Hindi pa rin good game kasi ang mas maganda kasi ‘yung team ‘yung maganda nilalaro eh. Kailangan lahat kami nagtutulungan,” he added.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Incoming rookie Sonny Estil in awe of Ginebra’s vaunted triangle system]
Heading into their next outing, Estil promised to bring even more energy and effort as the Gin Kings chase their first win of the conference against the TNT Tropang 5G next Wednesday, October 15, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Siyempre mas dadagdagan ko ‘yung intensity ng laro sa susunod na game,” he vowed.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.