JAVEE Mocon is a certified James Yap fanatic, but it was Jayson Castro who made him realize he’s finally living his PBA dream.
The Rain or Shine young gun remembered well his first-ever game against TnT Katropa in which he admitted getting star-struck by the two-time best point guard of Asia.
Playing on the same court and guarding the TnT Katropa playmaker felt like being on cloud nine for the sophomore wingman.
“Noong nakalaban namin ang Talk ‘N Text, noong nakita ko siya (Castro), and nakatapat ko as in na-depensahan ko (siya),” said Mocon.
That moment convinced the former San Beda standout he’s now in the country’s premier pro league.
“Eto talaga nandito na ako sa liga,” Mocon added.
His initial encounter with Yap during his first day of practice at Rain or Shine was also a special moment early in his pro career.
Yap, the two-time PBA MVP and grand slam winner with the Purefoods franchise, had been Mocon's hero ever since, so much so that he was blown away when he saw his idol do his signature one-hander move while practicing.
“Tinignan ko talaga and akala mo ang dali lang sa kanya,” said the 25-year-old, Guagua, Pampanga native.
Mocon tried to replicate the move, thinking it was as easy as counting 1 to 10.
It wasn’t.
“Kapag ginawa mo sa sarili mo na, sobrang hirap,” he said. “Nawala (sa kamay ko) yung bola.”
But Yap and Castro inspired Mocon to raise his level of play as a rookie, helping him become an integral part of coach Caloy Garcia’s rotation with the Elasto Painters.
By season’s end, Mocon, a first-round pick at No. 6 overall by Rain or Shine in the 2018 draft, finished a strong third in the race for the Rookie of the Year behind winner CJ Perez of Columbian Dyip and NorthPort’s Robert Bolick.
He nonetheless made it to the All-Rookie team.
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