Ortuoste grateful for ‘second chance’ as he joins Racal

Jamil Ortuoste. PBA IMAGES

Left off of the new-look San Sebastian squad, Jamil Ortuoste gets a shot at reviving his basketball career with Racal Tile Masters in the PBA D-League.

“Second chance siguro,” he said after playing his first game, Racal’s 100-67 rout of AMA on Tuesday. “Blessing na rin na kahit nawala ako sa Baste, nagkaroon pa rin ako ng team ulit ngayon sa D-League.”

Discouraged by how his collegiate career ended, Ortuoste admitted that he had a hard time getting himself back to the grind.

“Noong una, medyo naiilang pa ako kasi wala ako sa kundisyon eh.”

“Binigyan ko lang ng chance at sabi ko, pag di ako nakuha dito, di na ako magta-tryout sa ibang team at tatapusin ko muna yung pag-aaral ko,” said the business management senior.

Fortunately for Ortuoste, coach Caloy Garcia and Racal welcomed him with open arms in the Tile Masters backcourt which also features Jonathan Grey, Philip Paniamogan, Joseph Terso, and Billy Robles.

“Blessing din na nakuha ako,” he said. “Di ko ma-explain yung pakiramdam kasi ang tagal ko na hindi
nakalaro sa ganitong klase na liga.”

Now, Ortuoste has a chance to prove the doubters wrong and show that he can still compete with the best amateur players. And he has a tall task ahead as he tries to fill the gaps left by star guard Jiovani Jalalon in the Tile Masters fort.

“Lahat naman kami may opportunity mag-step up any given time,” said the 24-year-old playmaker. “Si coach naman, pagdating sa game, binibigyan nya lahat ng chance kung sino ang maganda ang nilalaro sa practice, mahaba-haba ang nilalaro sa game.”

And he believes it won’t take long before he goes back to his old deadly self.

“Konting kumpyansa pa,” he said.