UNLUCKY break after bad break.
This was how former Far Eastern University Tamaraws star guard RR Garcia would describe a journeyman PBA career that saw him play for no less than six teams after being picked No. 6 overall by GlobalPort in the 2013 rookie draft.
But just when he feared his professional basketball career was over after an unkind cut at Phoenix, the 36-year old guard got a break that felt like mannah from heaven when he was signed to a conference-long contract by Titan Ultra.
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“Basta, gaya nung unang years ko sa Phoenix, ibibigay ko kaya ko everytime bigyan ako ng chance to play. This is my third lease on career,” added the veteran after signing the short-term contract with the PBA's newest team.
The deal may not be much for now, but it means so much for the Zamboanga City native who over the last months has been reduced to playing in ligang labas games after a change in Phoenix management led to his exit.
“Nawalan po ako work. So, naghanap ako. Nag ligang labas muna para syempre may isustento sa pamilya. Lumalaki mga bata, kailangan ng budget lagi. Wala ka naman ibang pwedeng gawin kundi basketball,” he said.
Garcia revealed that he would even accept low paying ligang labas games just to make ends meet.
“Kahit biglaan nun, kahit barya, kinukuha ko na. Kasi pag nasa situation mo ako, hindi ka na choosy. Every opportunity, iga-grab mo,” he said. “Basta’t alam mo na marangal ang trabaho mo at mahal mo ang propesyon mo, go lang."
Garcia, in fact, nearly signed with the Bacolod Masskara in the MPBL until negotiations bogged down - which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the ballclub later got embroiled in a controversy over alleged game-fixing.
The Titan Ultra offer comes as a timely new lease on life and Garcia vowed to make the most of it, especially with management's promise that a longer contract awaits if he and the team do well in the Governors' Cup.
“Siguro nga, mailap sa akin ang swerte. Pero sana di pa huli ang lahat. Hopefully, nasa transition ang Titan Ultra, maabutan ko yung swerte ko,” said Garcia. "Alam ko kaunting years na lang natitira, so I will make the most out of it."
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