PERPETUAL Help’s Prince Eze expects competition to be tough in the final year of foreign reinforcements in the NCAA.
The Nigerian big man is on his final year of eligibility in the NCAA, which has ruled that this season is also the last one for foreign reinforcements in the league.
“Sometimes these rules are making us foreign students stronger," said Eze.
“This year is about to get heated up because of the ban for foreign students."
Eze said that he'll be coming in motivated and he expects other foreign reinforcements to be as motivated as well.
“I see all these as a motivation. First I left my family and traveled 20 hours to study and play basketball here in Perpetual, and then I have to stay off for two years residency. Those two years I practiced, I watched the NCAA and my hunger to win got bigger,” he added.
Eze is thankful for the opportunities that the country has given him and the lessons he learned both as player and as a person.
"The Philippines is a big part. As a student, my classmates help me keep focused on my studies and as an athlete, playing here in the Philippines made me a better man, it gives me responsibility," Eze said.
“Before I came to the Philippines, I didn't care that much about anything, but now I think about everyone in my team, making playoffs, being a good ambassador to my country Nigeria," he added.
As painful as the ruling is for foreign athletes like him, Eze wishes the league and the country the best.
"I hope the ban will help Philippines basketball because they are my second country, I love it here."