JM Calma knows he needs to earn his minutes playing as back up at San Miguel.
The third year big man said he’s actually not in a hurry and even more, is willing to learn under the guidance of eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and veteran Mo Tautuaa.
The 26-year-old Calma was recently acquired by the Beermen in a trade with Northport prior to the start of the PBA Philippine Cup in exchange for rookie guard Avan Nava and a second round pick in the coming Season 50 draft.
READ: SMB acquires JM Calma from NorthPort in trade for Avan Nava, future pick
‘In the future siguro, mage-gain ko naman yung minutes ko. Sanay naman ako sa ganitong sitwasyon, so positive lang ako,” he said.
“Bata pa naman ako. So dadahan-dahanin ko lang yung sistema ni coach.”
Calma was already in a San Miguel jersey during the team’s debut game against NLEX, but didn’t see action in the 98-89 win at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The former NCAA Mythical Team member out of San Sebastian is coming off an ACL surgery and isn’t totally 100 percent recovered when acquired by the Beermen in the trade.
He said there’s still a month left for him to complete his rehab, although he’s already given the go-signal to play.
“Nagre-rehab pa ako ngayon. May isang phase pa ako dun,” said Calma.
“Puwede naman na actually,” he added when asked if he’s already allowed to play. “Pero dinadahan-dahan ko pa lang.”
Calma said he just began playing competitively again upon the return of Northport from its conference break following a semifinals stint in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Halos kababalik ko lang, galing ako ng rehab. Ten months akong hindi nakaka-ensayo,” he said. “Nung pagbalik nila (Batang Pier), bumalik na rin ako and sumabay sa practice nila for the All-Filipino.”
It was upon his return to the team that he began hearing talks about the trade.
“Parang nagpaparamdam lang sa akin,” was how Calma described it.
It was a mixed emotions on his part when he was finally told about the trade, which meant ending his almost three-year stay with the franchise which picked him sixth overall during the Season 47 draft.
“Masaya na kaunting sad. Pero ganun talaga,” said Calma. “You need to move on kung saan ako nilagay ng Panginoon doon ako magpo-focus at kung ano yung nasa harapan ko.”
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