MANILA – Negrense guard John Paul Calvo is still in disbelief after Columbian Dyip made him as their 11th overall selection during the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday night at the Robinsons Place in Ermita, Manila.
The Silay City, Negros Occidental native Calvo said that, while he has inkling that he will be drafted, he did not expect that he will be chosen earlier than his former Letran Knights teammate Kier John Quinto.
“Sa totoong lang di ko expect na ako na pala ‘yung No. 11 pick e. Kasi mali pa pagtawag [sa name ko] tapos nagulat na lang ako sinabi nila sa akin na ako pala ‘yun kaya tumayo na ako agad,” Calvo told Panay News.
“Hindi ko po ma-express kung ano ang feeling ko nung pinaakyat na ako sa stage. Magkahalong excitement at kaba ang nararamdaman ko,” added the former Hua Siong College of Iloilo standout.
Now that he is with the Dyip, the Negrense guard promised that he will give his best in practices to prove to the Columbian management that he is worthy of a roster spot come the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup.
“Ang mai-cocontribute ko siguro sa team ay ‘yung pagiging general ko inside the court at magtatrabaho ako para makatulong ako sa team at para ipakita na worth it pagkuha nila sa akin,” Calvo said.
If ever he lands a roster spot at Dyip, the 5-foot-8 guard could be the third Hua Siong alumnus to play in the PBA aside from Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard James Yap and Meralco Bolts center Ken Bono./PN
