CAN Pao Javillonar still play for Letran come NCAA Season 100?
It’s a question hovering above the head of the 6-foot-5 banger who threw his name to the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft despite still having one more year of eligibility with the Knights.
Officials from the NCAA are clear that as long as Javillonar does not sign any contract, he still can suit up for Letran.
It’s the same case with that of Enoch Valdez who was picked by NLEX in the second round last year but rode out his final season with Lyceum before joining the Road Warriors.
Javillonar has done his due diligence in informing Letran and the NCAA of his plans, but the ball will now be on the court of coach Allen Ricardo if he’ll still include the hard-nosed forward in the Knights’ lineup regardless of his fate in the draft.
"I will respect his decision," the new Letran mentor said. "Ang hirap din kasi baka kung ipagpaliban pa niya, baka hindi matuloy at mag-move forward yung team niya. Dream niya talaga ang PBA eh."
Once in a lifetime opportunity
Yet for the Laoag, Ilocos Norte native, this leap is all about taking chances as he dreams of helping his family, especially his mother.
“Nandito na eh, nasa harapan ko na,” he said. “Gusto ko rin ito para sa family ko kasi para sa kanila ito. Gusto kong mas lalong maging proud sa akin yung mama ko. Hindi naman kami mayaman so gusto ko rin umangat yung buhay namin kaya ginagawa ko itong lahat.”
Like what he’s done all his life, Javillonar is also drawing inspiration from his kuya Jeff, a former National University forward and UAAP champion who also chased this PBA dream and was taken in the second round back in 2016.
“Idol ko si kuya kaya gusto kong sumunod sa footsteps niya. Tine-take ko lang lahat ng sinasabi niya kasi siya talaga ang inspiration ko,” he stated.
Regardless of what the future holds, Javillonar is just determined to put in the work and is ready to lay it out on the floor, whether it may be for his curtain call with the Knights or a fresh start in the pros.
“Once in a lifetime ito at di na ako makakapagpa-draft next year. Ito yung dream ko simula pa nung bata ako kaya kailan pa ba ako kikilos?,” he said. “Kaya para sa akin, sipag lang para sa pamilya at disiplina lang talaga sa sarili.”
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