GEO Chiu is hopeful that Terrafirma can compete in the upcoming PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup - his first conference with the team.
The No. 1 pick in the Season 50 Draft is slated to make his PBA debut in the coming conference after he finished his commitments with Abra in the MPBL, where he led the Weavers to a maiden championship.
Chiu hopes that his role in the team can help the Dyip win more games and avoid being at the bottom of the standings.
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When asked about the change from being in a winning team in the MPBL to a cellar-dweller in the PBA, Chiu said, “Ako naman po, ineenjoy ko naman po (na nasa PBA ako). Like what you said, our team, we’re struggling. Pero siguro for me, I see it in a positive way naman. Since we are struggling, there’s so much room for improvement and for us to get better.”
“Hindi naman po namin siya ni-rurush. We just take it one game at a time, one practice at a time. And I can see naman na the team is really working. So hopefully, itong season po, mawala na po ‘yung stigma na puro kami sa baba.”
Expectations are high for Chiu being the top selection in the recent draft, and the former Ateneo big man acknowledges that he has a bigger role at Terrafirma compared to his previous teams.
“’Yung role ko naman po, mainly is just to defend, get rebounds. ‘Yung offense naman po, parang bonus lang po ‘yun. But I’m working on it. ‘Yung role ko dito, medyo malaki nga po siya than what I’m used to but ‘yung mga coaches ko naman po, they really help me a lot. They just help me change my mindset. And so far naman, they’ve been helping me so much. I just need to gain more confidence na po talaga,” said Chiu.
The 6-foot-10 Chiu already played two tune-up games in preparation for the Commissioner’s Cup, going up against Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana when Terrafirma went up against Converge.
On Saturday, the 24-year-old Chiu went up against Beau Belga and import Jaylen Johnson in their match-up against Rain or Shine.
Though he had a respectable showing in both, Chiu said the two games are proof that he still has work to do.
“Ako naman po, nakikita ko na mayroong pang kailangan i-work on sa sarili ko. Siyempre ‘yung mga nakakalaban po natin dito sa PBA, the best of the best… They are really dominant. So ako, I have to work on myself to get stronger.
"Everything, so far good naman po kasi positive naman po siya. I get to see what I need to work on,” said Chiu.
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