A WORKHORSE mentality is what MJ Ayaay is looking to bring to any PBA team if he gets drafted on Sunday in the 2018 rookie draft.
"Positive lang. Kumpara ng ginagawa ko sa Lyceum, mas dodoblehin ko pa ang effort ko," said the 25-year-old forward.
Ayaay's tireless effort has been a staple of his stay with the Pirates as he has shown willingness to do the dirty work for the team.
"Lagi lang akong nage-extra work. Hindi ako nababakante ng isang araw," he said.
Standing just 5-foot-11, Ayaay knows that he's coming in undersized at the wing compared to his peers.
But Ayaay insists effort trumps size.
"Sa akin naman, kahit na undersized ako, basta dodoblehin ko ang effort ko, tingin ko kaya ko naman," he said.
And that trait has been well appreciated by the coaches and scouts who saw Ayaay's performance in the two-day Draft Combine, which could propel him to as high as the middle of the first round.
But for the Quezon native, he'd rather not worry about something he can't control.
"Excited ako na masaya kasi nandito na eh. Kahit anong ibigay ni God, basta mayroong team masaya na ako. Kumbaga, magtrabaho ka na lang," said Ayaay.