SONNY Estil has become used to attention that comes with being a player of the country’s most popular team.
The No. 11 pick in the PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft has become a fan favorite after becoming a surprise but popular first-round selectoin for Barangay Ginebra and eventually making it to the team’s roster.
“Halos pag sa news feed ko, pag nag-aano (Facebook) ako, puro mukha ko ‘yung nakikita ko eh,” said the 24-year-old Estil, drawing laughs from reporters during the second and final day of the PBA Media Day on Friday.
READ Cone shares how Estil, Barasi won him over in PBA Draft Combine
The 6-foot-3 Estil has settled in at Ginebra, but admitted he is still on cloud nine about being selected by the Gin Kings in the draft.
“Medyo okay-okay na. Nakakapag-move on na. Siyempre, excited lang ako sa ensayo kasi nakakasama ko na ‘yung mga kuya ko, ‘yung ina-idolize ko. Thankful lang din ako na hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala,” said Estil.
“Great experience lang talaga. Tiwala lang din ako sa sipag na ginawa ko. ‘Yun naman ‘yung nilu-look forward ko kaya nangyari din ‘yung opportunity na ‘to,” Estil said.
Estil is intent on providing hustle to the team for the coming season, the same thing that he provided during the Draft Combine that eventually led to him being selected by Barangay Ginebra.
“Kung paano ako maglaro, hustle, ‘yun lang,” said Estil. “Kung may opportunity na umiskor, iiskor kasi triangle offense naman ‘yun. Kung sino ang mao-open, ‘yun ang gusto nila coach. Kung sino ma-open, tira lang. Basta pagdating sa depensa, depensa talaga, hustle talaga.”
Estil said he is also determined to learn the triangle offense as fast as he can.
“Sa play, adjustment, kasi never ako nakapag-triangle offense. Ngayon pa lang. ‘Yung adjustment lang. Mabilis naman ‘yun, mabilis siguro makuha ‘yun, para mas magaan na lang sa laro kasi kabisado mo na kung paano galawin. Ilang beses pa lang ako nag-ensayo, two weeks pa lang,” said Estil.
“Maganda ‘yung triangle offense. Lahat ma-oopen, lahat makakatira,” he added.
Being part of the league’s most popular team could entail added pressure to some but not Estil.
“Sanay na ako sa pressure. Basta laban, laban lang ako. Kung ano man ang hamon sa buhay, hindi lang naman ‘yun ‘yung hamon sa buhay na dumating sa akin eh. Mas matindi pa doon.
"Kung ano man ‘yung ibibigay sa akin ng mga tao kung ano man ‘yung sinasabi nila, siyempre focus pa rin ako kung sino ako, paano ko dadalhin ‘yung sarili ko pagdating sa mga ganung sitwasyon,” said Estil.
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