Russell Escoto. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Russel Escoto already has someone in mind to emulate as he makes the jump to the PBA.
“Idol ko si Arwind Santos kasi sobrang effective ng laro niya,” he said Friday in the 2016 Slam Draft Suite. “Piso-piso lang. Walang extravagant na moves. Basic lang.”
“Napapanood ko na sya pagdating ko ng FEU, tapos sinabi ko ito ang idol ko.”
Not only did the two lanky forwards share the same alma mater in Far Eastern University, their wives are also sisters: “Bilas ko pa sya.”
Santos has been a fixture in the Tamaraws’ games and even watched as Phoenix won PBA D-League titles last
season with his fellow Kapampangan in the roster.
But after Sunday’s draft proper, there is a big chance Escoto could be playing against his idol.
“Excited ako and syempre kinakabahan din,” he said.
The 6-foot-6 big man is hoping to improve his skills as a small forward after spending years as a center for FEU.
“Syempre big man tayo eh. Ang target ko, maging tres na laro,” he said. “Yun ang iimprove sa sarili ko. Mas maraming advantage ang makukuha ko sa position na yun.”