Alvin Pasaol forgoes PBA Draft to chase PH 3×3 Olympic dream

MANILA, Philippines – After many months of speculation, highly touted prospect Alvin Pasaol has decided to skip the upcoming 2019 PBA Rookie Draft in favor of chasing the Philippines’ Olympic dream in 3×3 basketball. 

The former UE Red Warriors star forward revealed his final decision after lifting Wilkins Balanga to the championship of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Magiting Cup final leg on Friday, September 20. 

“Di ako magpapa-draft this year,” he said moments after sinking the game-winning shot for the championship and the P1 million grand prize. “Itutuloy ko yung campaign ko na sinimulan ko for 3×3. Tatapusin natin to, pupunta tayo ng Olympics. Yun lang yung masasabi ko.”

(I’ll skip the draft this year. I’ll continue the campaign I started for 3×3. We’ll finish this and get to the Olympics. That’s all I can say.)

Pasaol, the Philippines’ second-ranked 3×3 player behind Fil-Am Joshua Munzon, had his name thrown around as a potential first-round selection in the PBA draft for two years running. 

However, due to the Philippines’ possibility of clinching a spot for 3×3 basketball’s debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the burly 6-foot-4 forward has decided to give his full-blown commitment to the game’s half-court variant. 

Right now, the Philippine men’s 3×3 division is sitting at 25th place, just one spot below the qualifiers cut-off point. The country has until November 1 this year to gain points and improve its world ranking, which can be done through joining and hosting tournaments like Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3. 

“Kailangan kasi talaga nating pumunta ng Olympics. Wag nating sayangin yung pinaghirapan ng [Chooks] management para lang sa wala. Kung kami man mag-represent, wala na kaming ano dun. Kailangan lang naming mag-work hard, i-practice namin. Looking forward talaga kami.” 

(We really need to get to the Olympics. Let’s not waste the efforts of Chooks management for nothing. If we’re the ones who will represent, that’s not within our control. We just need to work hard and practice. We’re really looking forward to it.) 

Alvin Pasaol sinks the million-peso winning shot as Wilkins Balanga escapes longtime rival Equalivet Pasig in the final leg of the #Chooks3x3 Magiting Cup! | @JRnalistic pic.twitter.com/6DTE1ColAZ

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) September 20, 2019

Per FIBA rules, a 3×3 team for the Olympics and its preceding qualifying tournaments must be composed of two players within the top 100 of the final individual rankings and any two players of the country’s choosing. 

This means that Pasaol is very much eligible to represent the flag if ever the Philippines does make it to the Olympic qualifying rounds, which is certainly a future he is hoping for. 

“Going forward tayo sa Olympics. Kakayanin natin ‘to,” he concluded. 

(We’ll go forward to the Olympics. We can do this.)  – Rappler.com