AFTER a short stint in the PBA, Philip Paniamogan is looking forward to impress in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
The former Jose Rizal University shooter believes that he has so much more to offer and he intends to set the court ablaze for the Makati Skyscrapers for him to be able to prove that.
Paniamogan, left out of the 2014 PBA Draft, played only two games for the Kia franchise in the last Philippine Cup, putting up averages of 11 points, two assists and two steals. Relegated to the bench for the rest of the conference, the 27-year-old guard out of Cagayan de Oro agreed to a buy out from his Kia squad and eventually ended up with the Skyscrapers where he reunites with JRU assistant Cholo Villanueva.
“Nung inoffer sa akin to, di na ako nagdalawang isip pumirma. Yung edad ko, parang sakin gusto ko talaga maglaro. Sabi naman din nila na magagamit din nila ako so okay yun,” said Paniamogan.
That type of familiarity, working with Villanueva and several former teammates such as Jaycee Ascuncion and Gio Lasquety, is something that Paniamogan is banking on entering his debut for the newest regional basketball league in the Philippines.
Knowing that his coach understands his capabilities as a player, Paniamogan is confident that he can bloom further in this league.
“Okay na okay kasi siyempre kilala ko yung coach, yung management, mga kakampi ko din, kilala ko. Hindi narin mahirap sakin makisama dito. Welcome na welcome yung pagdating ko dito. Sobrang bait ng mga manager, lahat,” said Paniamogan.
“Naging madali na lang sakin, nung nagpapadraft ako, sila (Villanueva) ni coach Vergel yung nagmementor sa akin nung nasa JRU pa ako,” he added.
Paniamogan believes that he has improved leaps and bounds in the two and a half years that he has played in the PBA.
More of a volume shooter back in college, Paniamogan said that during his time as a reserve in the pro ranks he has learned to be more patient when it comes to scoring.
Now Paniamogan is ready to embrace the role of a gunner anew.
“Pag dating sa opensa, nakita na nila yung improvement ko, pero nagtatanong parin ako sa kanila. Tinatanggap ko naman yung challenges na yun, pero nakikinig naman ako sa mga ex-PBA players tulad nila Kuya Mark, nagtatanong ako, kung ano yung tama,” Paniamogan said.
Still, the dream for Paniamogan is to get back to the PBA after this stint and to prove that he has a lot more to give.
“Yun naman talaga pinagusapan namin ni coach Cholo. Gusto ko maglaro sa Makati kasi gustong gusto ko pa bumalik sa pro. Baka kasi may kumuha. Sabi ko nga di ko iiwan si coach Cholo dito sa Makati, pero sabi niya, kung may kumuha mas maganda.”