FOR the past week, the blessings have poured in for veteran guard Christopher ‘Ping’ Exciminiano.
He just turned a new leaf on Sunday and celebrated his wedding anniversary. Just a week ago, Exciminiano won a second PBA championship with TNT after the Tropang Giga beat the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Governors’ Cup Finals.
Ping said lessons he learned in the past made him more mature and better person today.
“Thank God nabigyan ako ng another chance na makabalik dito (sa PBA). At salamat sa mga lessons na natutunan ko especially nung pandemic,” said Exciminiano, who turned 36 on Nov. 17.
READ Exciminiano career in limbo after suffering injury in 'ligang labas' game
It isn’t a secret anymore what the 6-foot guard out of Far Eastern University went through at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, all because of his decision to play in an unsanctioned game commonly referred to as ‘larong labas.’
Exciminiano was still with the Rain or Shine franchise back then, and was actually set to be signed to a new deal when the Olongapo-born player suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while playing in an unsanctioned league.
Rain or Shine management obviously was enraged by what happened especially since Exciminiano didn’t seek permission about his decision to play.
In the end, Exciminiano had to undergo surgery and lost his Rain or Shine contract.
Worst, the league was forced to shut down operations in Season 45 for the time being following the outbreak of the pandemic.
That left Exciminiano with nothing to hold on to during troubled times.
“Na-injury ako. Malaki ang nawala sa akin. Nawalan ako ng opportunity dito sa PBA,” he admitted.
But behind the love and support of his family, Exciminiano, a second-round pick of Alaska in the 2013 draft at No. 18, started from scratch.
He initially signed with KCS-Mandaue City and played in the inaugural Pilipinas VisMin Cup in the middle of the pandemic. Ping later steered the team to the championship against MJAS Zenith-Talisay City and was adjudged as Finals MVP.
That paved the way for him to be signed by TNT in the PBA's second bubble conference in Bacolor, Pampanga, where he became part of the Tropang Giga team that bagged the Philippine Cup title against the Magnolia Hotshots.
But the stint was short lived.
Soon after, Exciminiano was relegated to TNT's 3x3 team, where he eventually built up his confidence again.
Given a break by TNT management and coach Mau Belen, Exciminiano formed a champion-caliber team with Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Samboy de Leon, and Gryan Mendoza which dominated the PBA 3x3 circuit during its three seasons of existence.
But when the 3x3 league was shelved, Exciminiano and Vosotros were extended invitations by team manager Jojo Lastimosa to try out for the 5-on-5 team.
“Actually parang ganun na rin (tryout) kasi kasama rin namin yung mga rookies like CJ Payawal, sila Gielo Razon, tapos yung mga draft picks ng TNT. Maganda naman 'yung nangyari sa practices especially yung (training) camp namin sa Cebu,” he recalled.
READ Vosotros, Exciminiano return to PBA by landing TNT roster spots
Exciminiano managed to crack the lineup and paved the way for him to become part of TNT’s latest championship campaign.
“Sobrang masaya ako kasi binigyan pa ako ng TNT (ng chance) na makapaglaro ulit,” he said.
And his comeback couldn’t have come at a perfect time.
Exciminiano has a young son who is only two years old and is just learning to appreciate his father as a basketball player.
“Siyempre nagkaron ako ng anak na lalaki sobrang masaya ako dahil nakikita niya rin yung daddy niya na makapaglaro,” he said.
Besides, his oldest son is also now playing as a junior.
“Yung panganay ko 18 years old na siya ngayon, naglalaro-laro na rin siya sa mga school-school so malaking bagay na ma-expose sila dito sa PBA, makita nila yung mga laruan dito,” Exciminiano added.
With a growing family, Exciminiano said he has learned to set his priorities, and not playing in ‘larong labas’ is certainly one of them.
Not that he is against or condemning fellow players who ply their trade in unsanctioned games, but for him, he definitely learned his lesson.
“Siyempre hindi ko na uulitin yung maglalaro ako sa ligang labas dahil sa isang malaking batok sa akin 'yun,” he stressed.
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