Elite rookie Jose vows to work hard after signing 3-year max deal

FILE PHOTO – Raymar Jose was picked third by Blackwater in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Raymar Jose inked a maximum P8.5 million deal with Blackwater on Monday.

“I’m happy that everything went okay,” Jose said in Filipino, finally making a decision of signing the three-year pact after initially being offered a one-year, P1.8 million contract.

“I was really thinking about it these past few days. I prayed that I will get the deal I deserve and I promised that I will really work hard for this.”

Luckily for Jose, he has familiar faces in Far Eastern U alums Denok Miranda and Mac Belo in the Elite camp which made his adjustment period much easier.

“The transition was really easy because I have them here. I’ve already learned a lot in the two weeks I spent here and I’m not scared to ask them things. They really help me a lot,” said Jose, who was the third overall pick in last month’s rookie draft.

But the 25-year-old isn’t just satisfied with cracking the Blackwater roster. This early, he’s readying himself in facing bigger and tougher frontcourt players once he makes his PBA debut.

“I know I will face veteran players who are bigger and more experienced that me, so I have to prepare myself for that,” he said.

“It’s a big help that I was exposed to professional players too in the international games, but all I’ll do is focus on what coach will run for us.”