ROGER Pogoy wore a blue polo and a borrowed navy blue jacket when he accepted the PBA Rookie of the Year award on Friday night.
Why?
Well, the TNT Katropa guard did not expect to win the top rookie honor - and therefore didn't dress for the occasion - when he attended the league's yearend Leo Awards at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Itong jacket ko nga hiniram ko lang sa team manager namin, si Sir V (Virgil Villavicencio), kasi hindi ko talaga expected,” Pogoy said shortly after accepting the award.
The former Far Eastern University star couldn't believe he emerged as the best freshman for the season, besting Matthew Wright of Phoenix, Jio Jalalon of Star, and Kevin Ferrer of Ginebra.
“‘Di ko ma-describe, parang kinakabahan na ‘di ko alam anong feeling o masasabi ko. ‘Di ko talaga ma-describe,” said Pogoy when a handful of reporters caught up with him.
Still, the Cebu native savored the award as the fruit of his hard work - as well as a constant reminder for him not to settle for anything but the best.
“Resulta ito ng work hard ko. Kasi before and after practice nagi-extra (ensayo) ako eh,” said Pogoy, who became the first Cebuano to be named top rookie in the PBA since Dondon Ampalayo in 1986.
“Pagbubutihan ko pa, kung pwedeng times two ang performance, ita-times two ko."
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