SEAN Manganti was expected to be among those first rounders in last year's draft had he entered.
And he felt like it, too, coming from a solid run with Adamson in the collegiate ranks.
But a cruel twist saw him be ruled ineligible as he went one game short of the prerequisite D-League games played that he had to wait a year more before finally making the jump.
With those things settled, the versatile Fil-Am forward is just more than relieved to finally get his basketball career on track.
"I feel like it was just like a weight off my shoulders," said Manganti, who will be part of the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday.
Tough as the waiting game was, the 25-year-old winger said that it all made his desire all the more burning as he comes in ready to seize every chance he gets.
"I think it's like a blessing in disguise because it kind of made me want it more," he said. "I wanted it really bad, but having to wait that amount of time when you're already supposed to go in, it's just that it makes you want it more and it makes you appreciate it more. So I'm just trying to enjoy this process."
Manganti also saw the time off as a chance for betterment, firm in his belief that he is probably in his best shape and at a peak mentality as he enters the PBA.
"I've definitely learned to be more disciplined and I think I have kind of a chip on my shoulder, too. So I'm trying to go all out this year," said the 6-foot-4 Swiss army knife, optimistic that he'll be one of the few to get picked early in the annual draft proceedings.
"That's what my goal is. I'm not going to put a number on it, but I think my work ethic and what I've done in UAAP, I think it speaks for itself."
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