Kris Porter banking on hardwork, confidence in PBA Draft bid

PBA D League All Stars Ieco Green Warriors vs Ryuku Golden Kings during The Asia League’s ‘The Terrific 12’ at Studio City Event Center on 18 September 2018, in Macau, Macau. Photo by Chung Yan Man / Power Sport Images for Asia League

MACAU—Despite having played for storied Ateneo during his collegiate days, Kris Porter’s name may not ring a bell to the casual basketball spectator.

The 6-foot-5 power forward was a two-time UAAP champion with the Blue Eagles but mostly rode the bench for the most part of his tenure.

Porter, though, is not letting his near anonymity deter his dream from entering the PBA.

“I just want to keep preparing myself for the draft and be positive even if I wasn’t the main big at Ateneo I still know I’d be able to contribute,” said Porter at Studio City here in Macau.

In the lead up to the draft, Porter suited up for iECO, the Philippine representatives in the Asia League The Terrific 12 that pits top teams from China, Japan, Chinese-Taipei, and Korea against each other.

The former Blue Eagle was chosen as one of the Green Warriors after his championship with Go for Gold in the PBA D-League Foundations Cup.

“I will work as hard as I the other guys have been working and I believe I’d be able to contribute as much as any other player from the UAAP,” said Porter who averaged six points and one triple in the two games of the Green Warriors.

Porter has both the height and girth required to bang bodies in the PBA paint but he knows his shooting could also make an impact once he makes the jump to the pros.

After not attempting a single three-point field goal in his first two seasons with Ateneo, Porter found the stroke in his latter two years converting on a 33.3 percent clip.

Porter added that he’ll continue to work not just on his game but also on his confidence before he submits his name to the PBA office for the draft.

“I’d like to think I’m a versatile player, I can play in the post with my back to the basket or I can stretch the floor and shoot threes,” said Porter. “I guess both of those skills, which my coaches in college helped me develop will help me a lot in the PBA.”

“Personally I believe that confidence is something you build on your own and no one else can give you. I am confident enough to say that I can help my team.”