JAYMAR Gimpayan received one of the best endorsements in the lead-up to the PBA Season 48 draft from former Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina, who spoke highly of the unheralded player a few days ago on his X/Twitter account.
“If PBA teams are looking for a Calvin Abueva type player and elite rebounder, I would highly suggest taking a close look at Waray Gimpayan in this draft,” wrote Gavina. “He might not have the local exposure like some of these NCAA and UAAP bigs but I guarantee he has a better motor than them.”
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Gimpayan was thankful, of course.
“Nakita ko, okay nga eh, nag-thank you ako sa kanya,” said the 6-foot-3 Gimpayan of Gavina’s tweet. “Siguro dahil nakasama ko rin siya.”
Like many of the draftees, Gimpayan believes now is the right time to try his luck in the PBA draft, more so since he's no longer a spring chicken at 28.
“Gusto ko sumabay sa magandang draftees ngayon,” Gimpayan told SPIN.ph. “Siguro ito na ‘yung pagkakataon. May edad na rin kasi ako, 28 na. Tinry ko lang din. Marami rin nagsasabi na magpa-draft na ako.”
Known as ‘Waray’ because he is from Laoang, Northern Samar, Gimpayan has patiently made a name in the MPBL. Prior to Friday or through 25 games, he was averaging 10.6 points and 11.9 rebounds for an Imus squad that had former PBA players in its roster such as Jayjay Helterbrand and Marc Pingris.
This despite having little college experience. A product of Barangay Oleras High School in his hometown, Gimpayan played for Lyceum's Team B in 2015 and came close to crashing a Pirates side coached by Topex Robinson and led by future PBA star CJ Perez, and the Marcelino twins Jaycee (reigning MPBL MVP) and Jayvee.
But a knee injury all but ended his college career. Gimpayan said he lost his appetite for playing, and was resigned to the fact that his basketball career was over.
“Parang ayoko na mag-basketball nung time na ‘yun,” said Gimpayan.
Or so he thought.
Gimpayan was spotted by Voltaire Ora, team owner of Valenzuela Classic, when the MPBL was being formed. The Classic eventually became one of the pioneer teams of the regional league, and Gimpayan was included in the roster.
“Si Boss Voltaire, nakilala ko siya sa ligang labas. Sinabi niya sa akin, ‘Ayos ka bata, may potential ka.’ Pag nagpa-tryout ang Valenzuela, magpunta ka. Binigyan niya ako ng pagkakataon na makapaglaro,” he said.
The coach at that time for Valenzuela was Gavina, who gave him limited minutes at first until he improved by leaps and bounds under the coach's stewardship.
“Si coach Chris kasi magaling magturo at magpa-ensayo. Doon talaga ako natuto kasi maayos talaga at naka-detalye talaga,” said Gimpayan.
“Nung binigyan ako ng playing time pa-konti-konti, doon siguro ako nakilala [sa Valenzuela]. Maganda rin kasi crowd doon… Nagpursigi ako sa training. Hindi ko in-expect na ang laki ng inimprove ko. Sinasabi rin ng ibang tao. Siguro sa training lang siguro. Limang oras ang practice namin. Doon ako nahasa.”
A few years later, he signed with Imus where he continued to blossom. This season he already grabbed 20 rebounds or more in three games, with only Justine Baltazar of Pampanga (16.6) the player with more boards than him.
Gimpayan is happy with Gavina’s Abueva comparisons, but bared that he really tries to pattern his game after that of Pingris, a player that he really idolizes.
“Si Pingris talaga idol ko pero idol ko din si Abueva, dahil sa tapang sa laro. Si Marc Pingris, parang ganun din eh. Pisikal talaga siya. Ang sarap panoorin. Kaya natutuwa ako pag siya ‘yung nakikita ko sa laro,” said Gimpayan.
It is those same qualities that Gimpayan promised to bring to the team that would draft him, whether it be rebounding or hustle.
“Kung may kukuha man sa akin, ibibigay ko ‘yung 110 percent sa laro. Ibubuhos ko sa team na ‘yun. Siguro sa hustle, makakatulong ako,” said Gimpayan. “Kahit man lang fourth to fifth round, okay na sa akin ‘yun. Basta ma-draft lang."
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