JOSEPH Eriobu just made a strong a case for a spot in Magnolia’s 5-on-5 team in Season 48 of the PBA.
And as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Eriobu capped his stellar preseason campaign with the Hotshots by leading the team past a gritty Terrafirma side, 106-92, for an 11-game sweep of the two-month long PBA on Tour.
READ: Magnolia completes 11-game sweep of PBA on Tour
The star player of Magnolia’s 3x3 team scored nine of his 15 points in the final quarter and sparked the telling run that allowed the Hotshots to pull away for good from the Dyip.
The effort led to Eriobu being selected Player of the Game, something which he achieved for the first time in his seven-year pro career.
“Sa seven years kong karera ng basketball, pangarap ko ring makapag-Best Player. Tapos nakuha ko ngayon. Nag-Best Player ako sa 3x3, pero yung Best Player sa 5-on-5 (hindi pa),” said a teary-eyed Eriobu.
“Sobrang blessed lang talaga. Ang feeling ko ngayon cloud nine, e.”
The 31-year-old product of Mapua capped his On Tour call-up with the Hotshots by averaging 9.9 point, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists at 16.4 minutes a game.
He’s keeping his fingers crossed the numbers and his positive attitude in the game would help him earn a spot in Magnolia’s regular 5-on-5 lineup.
“Goal kong talaga makabalik sa 5-on-5,” he said with a straight face.
Not that the 3x3 wasn’t good to him. He actually made a bigger name for himself playing the halfcourt game, where he led the Purefoods Titans to a couple of leg titles in the PBA.
Even more, Eriobu realized his dream of playing in the national team through the 3-aside game.
“Sobrang bait ng Panginoon, binigyan niya pa ako ng bonus na makapag-represent ng ating bansa not once but twice. Tapos nakapag-silver pa, nakapag-uwi pa ng medalya para sa bansa natin,” he added, referring to his stint with Gilas 3x3 in the FIBA Asia Cup and the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, where the Filipinos bagged the silver medal.
“Yung 3x3 ang iniisip ko na makakatulong sa akin na makabalik dito. (Sana) ito na nga yun.”
Coach Chito Victolero hinted about retaining the same cast Magnolia has for the coming new season of the league.
“Most probably,” said Victolero when asked if this would be the Hotshots’s roster for the 2023-24 season, mentioning the names of Abu (Tratter), Joseph (Eriobu), and David (Murrell) as the new guys.
Eriobu said he’s grateful to Magnolia’s bevy of veterans for making the transition from 3x3 back to 5-on-5 a bit easier.
Grateful Eriobu
“Sa practice (nanibago ako), pero with the help of veterans like Kuya Mark (Barroca), Kuya Paul (Lee), Kuya Jio (Jalalon), Kuya Calvin (Abueva), Kuya Jack (Corpuz), halos lahat ng veterans pinadali nila na maka-adjust ako kaagad dahil sa guidance nila,” he stressed.
The same goes for the utilities, management, and the coaching staff under Victolero.
“Yun lang ang sinasabi sa akin ni coach (Chito), work your way para magamit ka. Kung gamitin ka, dapat maging ready ka, opensa, depensa, intangibles. Yun ang laging tinatanim sa utak naming mga players dito sa Magnolia,” he said.
Several players from the 3x3 managed to work their way back in the 5-on-5 game, including Eriobu’s Purefoods teammate Jed Mendoza, who now shares the Magnolia backcourt chores with Barroca, Lee, and Jalalon.
Hopefully, Eriobu would follow suit.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
