It was a return Pao Javelona had to wait for two years to happen.
After getting cut by Phoenix in during his rookie year in 2016, Javelona found himself back in the PBA, this time as a member of the GlobalPort Batang Pier in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
This is Javelona’s second chance at the country’s premier basketball league and he owes this call up to his hard work in helping Alab Pilipinas win the championship in the ASEAN Basketball League.
“It feels so good to be here and I’m happy I get to play in the PBA,” said Javelona, who was drafted late in the third round by the Fuel Masters, after the Batang Pier’s 116-94 win over NLEX Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“What happened to me [when I was cut and ended up playing in the ABL] actually became a source of motivation that I should work even harder so I can get to this place where I am now,” added Javelona in Filipino.
Javelona averaged 4.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, in 12.2 minutes per game for Alab in the ABL’s elimination round before showing his capabilities on the defensive end in the playoffs.
That brand of play earned Javelona a call-up from the Batang Pier, who are in the fourth seed of the Commissioner’s Cup with a 3-2 record.
“I’ll have to put in extra effort, extra work so I can reach what I want to achieve in my career,” said Javelona who had three points, on 1-of-4 shooting, and two assists in 11 minutes of playing time.