WHENEVER he speaks about Robert Jaworski, Vince Hizon is full of gratitude. He's not ashamed to say that he owes a lot to "The Living Legend."
Even beyond their time together in Ginebra, where Jaworski served as his coach, Vince still takes the time to confide things in his life to his Ginebra mentor.
"I fluorished not because he was so patient with me, but he took the time to make me say the things I didn't do in order to improve individually and as a teammate," he said in an online webinar sponsored by insurance company AXA.
"He was honest, led by example, and laid down all the cards for me to choose from. I trust him 100 percent until today."
That mentorship is what helped Hizon even after his playing days as he was able to save his finances and set himself up for a better life after basketball.
The 49-year-old is now an active entrepreneur and environmentalist, on top of him being a public speaker and the occasional broadcasting stints.
Not every player can say they follow the same path.
With the deluge of money coming in once players turn professional, it's easy for them to lose sight of their goals. Hizon acknowledged this sad fact, saying that not everyone gets a chance to have a prolonged career.
"My coaches have told me that basketball careers are done in a blink of an eye. Very few play longer than two or three years. So they told me, do not squander whatever you earn," he said.
And just as Jaworski did to him, Hizon gave three pointers for professional basketball players aspring to be more financially ready — even when they're still playing. After all, he knows that not everyone can enjoy coveted financial security even after their PBA careers are up.
Think of it as Hizon paying it forward.
"Just like in basketball where we study our opponent, gathering data, and studying the pros and cons of everything, it's the same with what I did in finance. I had to learn everything they had when it comes to safety and security," he began.
Hizon then outlined the next steps, financially.
"One, get your team and get your family involved in the discussion. Then, choose your battles. Choose between short, medium, and long term investments. For me, I chose safety and security in businesses with a longer term."
He concluded: "Lastly, don't be scared to take the big shot. Never rush things, but after doing your due diligence, and when you think the timing is right, go for it. You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take, and you can never score if you do not take that shot. So don't be afraid to be on the lookout for business opportunities out there."
Even if not everyone will get a chance to earn the kind of money professional hoopers get, that's sound financial advice for anyone who's looking to secure a stronger financial future in these uncertain times.
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