MANILA, Philippines – A possible reunion with fellow University of Cebu alum June Mar Fajardo in the San Miguel Beermen would be fitting for PBA D-League standout Brian Heruela.
Brian Heruela. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Heruela shared back-to-back championships with his good friend and reigning PBA MVP Fajardo in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) and the stocky guard couldn’t help but beam over the idea of possibly joining forces with the former top overall pick in 2012.
“To be honest with you, I just approach this draft like whoever wants me or whoever is going to pick me,” said Heruela, who led the Big Chill Superchargers to the 2014 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Finals before losing to NLEX. “I’m going to play hard for them 100%.”
“Reunite with June Mar Fajardo, that will be real great,” Heruela said with a smile. “But we’ll see. If some other teams pick me, I just give my all.”
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound guard Heruela also said that he and Fajardo, who is currently in Spain as part of the Philippine National team for the Fiba World Cup, are still in constant communication despite being on different paths since leaving Cebu to continue their basketball careers.
“He’s just been telling me how it is in the PBA like what to expect,” he said. “He’s also been telling me to get ready and what he through when he was a rookie so I kind of have an idea how it will go. I’m seeing it myself and so far it’s been pretty good.”
The Beermen won’t pick until late in the second round and while Heruela may consider himself a sleeper in the 2014 PBA Draft, his last season in the D-League especially in the Aspirants Cup where he consistently posted near triple-doubles in points, rebounds and assists, make him a likely first round choice or an early second round selection.
Heruela knows there are a lot of other good players at the point guard spot – including soon-to-be first overall pick by GlobalPort Stanley Pringle and Gilas cadet Kevin Alas. But for him, his versatility separates him from the rest.
“I play both ends of the floor. Defense, offense, rebounding. For me basically, I can do it all. Just like what I did in the D-league. I kind of have an all-around game. That’s what I bring to the table,” said the 25-year-old Heruela, who has worked out with the Barako Bull Energy and Batang Pier the past week.
Heruela was matched up with Pringle during the Draft Combine scrimmage and was able to hold his own against the seasoned Fil-American. But that for now is one of his least concerns heading into the draft.
“I don’t look at it that way. I like to focus on myself. What I’m going to do rather than worry about somebody else. If the opportunity comes this season, if we play with each other or play against (each other) I’ll be ready. There are a lot of talented guards out here,” he said.
“I was pretty confident in the D-League. I showed what I can do on the floor. I’m pretty confident coming into this draft and I just hope for the best.”
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