Forrester still eager to show true worth despite another trade

James Forrester. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Before the reporter could even finish his question, James Forrester already knew what was coming.

“Oh man, I have to do one of these again?”

Forrester has just been shipped to Blackwater, his fourth team after being drafted by Barangay Ginebra as a surprise No. 4 pick in 2013, and to him, getting traded has been the story of his basketball career since.

The 27-year-old guard said he’s already used to bouncing around from one team to another but admitted the latest development in his career came unexpected.

“To be honest, it was a little bit shocking because with the head coaching change over at NLEX, of course I was pretty excited to be under coach Yeng. Even in the first couple weeks of practice, I really fell in love with his system, his coaching style,” Forrester said Wednesday.

“But it’s not that unfortunate because I’m gonna stay optimistic that I’m going to a team where hopefully there’s an opportunity. I’m overall excited for the opportunity. Anything at this point is a blessing. I’m still in the PBA, and that’s the way I look at things.”

Forrester was packaged by NLEX along with a second round pick in this year’s draft in exchange for gunner Carlo Lastimosa. The trade has yet to be approved by the PBA.

Lastimosa was the last pick of the second round in the same draft class as Forrester.

Blackwater holds the No.1 pick in the draft set on Sunday with do-it-all forward Mac Belo projected as the top selection.

“They’re making some moves. They have the first overall pick. If they wanna turn to a young core, I wouldn’t mind being a part of that,” Forrester said. “If there’s an opportunity, I’m gonna take a run at it because it’s four years already. I feel like I haven’t really been playing that long.”

“Whatever it is I’m just excited to be a part of Blackwater. Coach Leo Isaac was actually one of the coaches that recruited me to come to the Philippines in the first place and getting a chance to reunited with him is special,” added the Fil-Canadian forward.

Forrester remains positive despite having the opposite of the kind of career he had envisioned coming out of Arellano University in college.

But at the same time, he also couldn’t keep his frustrations from mounting.

“I’m not tired. I understand it’s a business. Through experience I already know how it is. I’m not tired of moving around, I’m tired of not being able to really show this league and the fans what I’m capable of doing. That’s what I’m tired of,” said Forrester. “And it’s major regret because I know my capabilities, I know what I can bring to the table.

“I’m really excited to prove the people wrong. I’ve always been an underdog and I feel like that’s how it is right now. There’s a lot to prove, there’s a lot to prove to myself everybody, the team, the league so Im excited for this challenge.