Fourth-round pick Agovida shines in Blackwater loss

Kieth Agovida during the PBA Draft Combine. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Could Keith Agovida be this draft’s biggest steal?

Based on his first game, the fourth-round draft pick has earned a consideration.

Though Blackwater went on to lose its opening game to NLEX, 90-86, Agovida had a good debut as he led the Elite with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists off the bench.

The 6-foot-2 wingman, unknown to a number of PBA fans, relished the chance to play in the pro-league after getting picked late in the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft.

“Ang saya ko kasi rookie ako, napakita ko na yung skill ko na pwede pala ako sa liga na ‘to,” he said, thanking coach Leo Isaac for the confidence given to him.

“Binibigyan lang kasi ako ni coach Leo ng kumpyansa kahit rookie ako. Tsaka teamwork naman ang ginagawa namin kaya siguro nagagawa ko yung ganun.”

(I’m happy because even if I’m just a rookie, I was able to show that I have the skills to make it here. Coach gave me the confidence even if I was just a rookie. But it was also because of teammwork that I was able to get those [numbers].)

Agovida, who played for Arellano in College and once scored 82 points in highschool, admitted that he was first taken aback by the physicality in the PBA, unlike he has ever experience in in the NCAA.

“Kinakabahan ako nung una kasi pisikal, kasi sa college hindi naman masyadong pisikal (I got nervous at first because it was really physical, it wasn’t like that in college).”

But slowly, he was able to adjust to the situation and make a good account of himself.

“Basta gawin ko lang yung pinapagawa ni coach, tingin ko magiging ok naman ako. Tsaka yung mga teammates ko, tinutulungan din ako kaya dagdag rin yun (I’ll just do whatever coach asks of me, I think I could do good. Plus my teammates also help me so that’s a plus),” said Agovida.