KYT Jimenez is not discounting the possibility of resuming his PBA career after his stint with the Zamboanga Valientes in Dubai.
The flashy guard said his dream to play and stay in Asia's oldest pro league hasn't waned despte his departure from San Miguel - and it's something that he vowed to keep pursuing if given another opportunity.
While there's a slight regret giving up the remaining year of his contract with San Miguel, Jiminez couldn't resist the chance to play which unfortunately he failed to earn with the franchise that picked him No. 76 overall in the PBA Season 48 draft.
"Siyempre pangarap ko yung PBA. Gusto kong makapaglaro dun. Gusto kong makita kung hanggang saan yung skills ko o kung anuman ang meron ako," said Jimenez as he practiced with the Valientes for the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship.
"Siyempre nanghihinayang," he later admitted to SPIN.ph about taking a risk of leaving the PBA champion team and taking his act to a rising club team that takes pride in giving opportunities to players who hail from Zamboanga.
"Siyempre hindi na rin naman tayo bumabata. So nag-take lang ako ng risk na bakit hindi ko subukan ulit kasi ang tagal ko na ring hindi nakapaglaro."
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Zamboanga Valientes team owner Junnie Navarro happened to be looking for players to make up his team after being given the go-signal to compete in Dubai.
He reestablished contact with Jimenez, who he tried to recruit even before he applied for the PBA draft.
"Wala pa ako sa San Miguel nun, kinukuha niya na rin ako," Jimenez admitted.
But the initial plan didn't pan out as the point guard out of Perpetual Help opted to pursue his PBA dream.
Jimenez said he sought the permission of San Miguel management for a release before saying yes to Navarro and the Valientes.
"Sabi ko kasi sa kanya (Navarro) na gusto kong abutin' yung pangarap ko na mag-PBA," said Jimenez. "Pero nagkataon na ngayon itinadhana."
Jimenez said he didn't find it hard to get his release from San Miguel.
"OK naman po kami. Nakausap ko si Sir [SMB team manager] Gee (Abanilla). Nag-paalam ako ng maayos," said Jimenez.
As one of the veterans at the Valientes camp, Jimenez is expected to share backcourt chores with Mike Tolomia while mentoring rising guard Forthsky Padrigao.
He knows how tough the competition will be in Dubai for the Valientes, one of two Philippine representatives in the annual joust along with Strong Group Athletics.
But a good showing in the Jan. 24-Feb.2 meet will not only boost Philippine basketball in general, but also Jimenez's career.
He's looking to redeem himself with the Valientes in the hope that it would again open the PBA door for him.
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