LEO Avenido has carved out a name for himself in the Asean basketball circuit with stints in the ABL and in the Thailand domestic league.
As he enters the final stretch of his basketball career, the veteran guard is glad to see his career go full circle by returning to his home country and doing what he loves the most here.
Now pushing 40, Avenido has found himself a home in the MPBL, playing for the expansion team Zamboanga Valientes in the Manny Pacquiao-owned league.
Avenido is relishing every opportunity playing on home soil.
“Homecourt ito e, siyempre sanay ka dito, walang mambu-bully sayo ganun, pero ako, alam mo naman tayo, basketball, basketball lang tayo, trabaho natin yan, trabaho lang,” said Avenido.
“Saka nagpapasalamat ako na may mga opportunity na ganito, yung MPBL, yung D-League, mabibigyan ng tyansa, di ko na kailangan lumayo kasi pamilya ko kasama ko,” he added.
With the MPBL running almost a year, Avenido is now bound to play in the Philippines longer, a huge break from the grind in overseas leagues.
That doesn’t mean he’s closing doors on being on the move again after his stint with Zambales.
“Oo (Parang di na kailangan umalis) pero, siyempre hindi na tayo bata e. Sinasagad ko lang, sinusulit ko lang yung pagiging player para kumite ng kaunti at medyo active ka pa rin,” said Avenido.
Like most veterans, Avenido is giving back to the league by further guiding his younger teammates and setting an example to them – particularly the homegrown players who aren’t used to the grind that most pros go through.
Avenido sees the potential in his teammates, now it’s all about adding that one push to get them over the limit.
“Okay naman sila, yung push lang nila at yung dedication yun ang kulang pa e. Talent wise okay naman, yung parang gusting gusto mo umangat, dun lang talaga nagkukulang. Sa tingin ko ah, ako di naman ako sobrang galing. Yun lang siguro ang gusto ko mangyari kasi double effort sila,” said Avenido.
“Akin naman, guidance lang sa kung anong naexperience ko na nagwowork sa akin.”
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