CHICAGO - A college star when he entered the Season 48 PBA Rookie Draft, former Lyceum Pirate Enoch Vadez had more promise than an elected public official.
"He has great skills, with athleticism that is above average. He is also quick, a high-leaper with excellent timing," said TV analyst Jude Roque, who watched Valdez up close in the NCAA.
Two years after NLEX made him the 18th overall pick of the 2023 PBA draft, the greased rail that was supposed to slide Valdez into stardom has stalled.
READ JB Bahio winner lifts NLEX past Magnolia in tune-up
In the PBA Philippine Cup, for instance, the 6-foot-2, 178-lb small forward appeared only in nine games and averaged a meek 9 minutes and 14 seconds a contest where he chipped in 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per.
It's unclear why Enoch, who had more usage than a Meralco meter during the time of coach Frankie Lim, is suddenly hungered for playing time under current coach Jong Uichico.
IN THE DOGHOUSE.
There are two schools of thought, Roque hypothesized.
One is that NLEX is loaded with wings and it's hard to play everyone. And the other is that the Road Warriors are not a run-and-gun team, a style of play that is more suited to Valdez's skill-set.
As trade rumors persist, Uichico told me on Tuesday night that he "heard teams were interested in him last year pa" but he insists NLEX isn't trying to part ways with Valdez and that "I'd prefer to keep him."
To me, though, utilizing a player for only 9:14 minutes a game is a strange way of showing affection. Also, NLEX has a dearth of bigs, forcing some of their 3s to play the 4, so Enoch could be a pawn to move if a center comes along.
Agent Ed Mangahas told me in a telephone interview that Valdez's contract with NLEX runs through the end of December 2025. When I asked if an extension is in the works, this is what coach Uichico said.
"Let me check on that."
At age 25, with the years peeling, maybe Enoch should also check if a change of scenery is what's needed for his career to finally take flight.
DODGED A BULLET.
Dealing with a slipped disc that hampered his UAAP Season 88 debut last Saturday, Divine Adili didn't practice with Ateneo last night,
But Blue Eagles fans can now heave a sigh of relief.
"He is feeling much better. The medical staff are all confident he'lll be fine," a source told me.
After squandering a comfortable lead in regulation, Ateneo had to escape from a six-point deficit at the 1:54 mark of overtime to beat FEU, 86-83, in the opener.
In other words, the Blue Eagles did everything to give that game away but the Tamaraws insisted on giving it back.
The game against UE tomorrow should be a breeze.
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.
