PBA Draft Hopeful Mikee Reyes. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Mikee Reyes has taken the unconventional route to the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft.
Hampered by shoulder injuries during his time in University of the Philippines and was even crippled by an ACL injury after his collegiate career, the 5-foot-10 guard is eyeing to progress to the pro league in his own unique way.
Reyes went to the commentary table and served as an analyst for two seasons in the NCAA, where he sat beside some of the country’s best basketball minds like Olsen Racela and Ronnie Magsanoc.
“Malaking tulong para sa akin yun,” he said. “I met people who know the game. There were lots of information I had to process when I’m covering the games and nakita ko rin in third person yung nangyayari during the games. Mas naintindihan ko yung nga situations, so it’s really a big help for me.”
Reyes has been inactive from competitive tournaments since suiting up for Foton in the PCBL. But it doesn’t mean that he has stayed away from the hardcourt as he kept himself fit and even trained with his friends from the commentary table and the press.
Making the decision to join the Draft long before the other players have, Reyes was able to fully focus his efforts on improving his skills as a point guard, even shutting down his loud social media accounts to avoid distraction.
“When I decided to enter the draft four months ago, I tried to get better every day. I wanted to focus on myself, get stronger, quicker, and better. I want to control the game better, be able to dictate the tempo, and just being a point guard out there.”
Though the pain of his injuries may have hurt his career in the past, Reyes would rather look back at it as a blessing in disguise, pushing himself even harder to get to his goal.
Reyes is leaving it all up to God, believing he has done all he could to achieve his dream of playing in the PBA.
And if he gets called up on stage on Sunday, it would be the sweetest gift for his 26th birthday.
“Butas ng karayom talaga itong dinadaanan namin. Kahit magtrabaho ka araw-araw, even if you don’t take a day off, di mo pa rin alam anong mangyayari,” he said. “I believe that I worked as hard as I can. Kumbaga, nilabas ko na lahat. Kung hindi man ako umabot, I know deep in my heart na magagamit ko pa rin yung mindset na yun for the future. Ganun naman ang buhay eh, wala ka namang alam. You just have to trust in God’s plan.”