RAIN or Shine rookie Jun Roque knows that he couldn’t have been put in a much better position to start his PBA career.
So he’s making sure to take advantage of every opportunity thrown his way.
Drafted 12th overall in the PBA Season 50 rookie draft, the former Perpetual Altas and Letran Knight is continuing to prove that he belongs in the big league after dropping 15 points off the bench in the Elasto Painters’ 124-117 win over the Terrafirma Dyip at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday.
READ: Rain or Shine races to win No. 7 at the expense of Terrafirma
This output is the best in Roque’s PBA career so far, and the second time this conference he’s breached double-digits in six appearances.
“Alam natin ang Rain or Shine talagang nagbibigay ng opportunity sa lahat ng mga players, so as a player, ako dapat always ready,” Roque said.
“Sobrang saya ko na Rain or Shine ang nakakuha sakin. Hindi ko pinapabayaan, kaya talagang binalik ko yung tiwala na binibigay sakin ni coach Yeng [Guiao].”
The 6’4 wing played most of the second half where he starred alongside fellow rookies Joshua David, Christian Manaytay and Letran teammate Deo Cuajao.
He hit back-to-back threes to close out the third quarter, before hitting another one just minutes later to open the fourth and keep the Elasto Painters’ lead at 20, 104-84.
While Terrafirma made one last rally, trimming that lead to seven, Guiao decided to stick with his rookies and it paid off – with Roque’s fastbreak lay-up from fellow rookie Cuajao all but sealing the deal for Rain or Shine.
“We tried to give our rookies some live game experience today, we tried to give them extended minutes and tried to rest our regular guys for future battles,” Guiao explained.
“Sinusubukan ko sila. Of course it’s always a risky move. At the same time hindi ka naman aasenso kung di mo bibigyan ng pagkakataon na masubukan sila sa live game situation,” he continued.
“Nakikita ko sila sa practice, masipag, hard-workers, they deserve a chance. Yung binigay kong minutes kanina, pinagtrabahuhan nila yun, at nasuklian naman. Actually masaya ako sa performance nila.”
On Roque’s end, it’s really not that hard to perform when he’s playing for a coach known for giving a long leash on rookies, and teammates who’ve wanted nothing more than for him to succeed.
“Sobrang kumpyansa din, kasi 'yung mga kuya ko dito sa Rain or Shine talagang ineencourage nila ako tumira,” Roque said.
“Sabi nga nila, kung hindi mo ititira, alam mong magagalit si coach Yeng, so swerte rin kasi pumapasok ang mga tira ko.”
That’s why he vows to continue to work on his weak points as he vows to get better and better for the Elasto Painters.
“Siguro yung sa katawan, kailangan ko pa idagdag, isa yun sa mga pinaka-weakness ko, tapos kumpyansa pa sa sarili, minsan hindi ako nagiging aggressive eh, yun talaga pa yung kailangan ko i-work on.”
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