GEO Chiu was picked No. 1 overall by Terrafirma in the PBA Season 50 Draft.
The tallest player in the draft at 6-foot-9, Chiu was selected by a Dyip side that will be looking to turn things around after finishing dead last in all three conferences last season - and twice nearly being sold to a new owner.
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Chiu, the 24-year old former Ateneo center and Japan B.League Asian import, is the second straight center to go No. 1 overall in the annual drafting after Converge's Justine Baltazar, but is nothing like the previous top picks before him.
Unlike the Fajardos and Slaughters and Standhardingers, Chiu played the role of back-up for most of his college career and did not emerge as the top draft prospect until the top favorites declined to declare and headed elsewhere.
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But like they say, you can’t teach height, and Terrafirma was intent on getting ceiling for the coming season.
“Medyo nagulat pa rin with all the speculations, nothing sure naman eh. Being picked first, parang hindi pa rin ako maka-get over. Mahirap paniwalaan na magfa-first [overall pick] ka, di ba?” said Chiu.
“Nonetheless, grateful for this. I’m super thankful for my team, for Terrafirma for believing in me as their first pick in the 50th season,” said Chiu.
Chiu said he will do his best to help Terrafirma become at least a playoff team in the coming season.
“Ako naman, entering a team, that’s something that you want to help the team and hopefully, get some more wins. It will also depend on the coaching at sa samahan namin.”
“Hopefully, as the season passes by, the more games we play, we build more chemistry. Hopefully, it would get us more wins this season,” said Chiu.
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