Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Instrumental in leading San Beda to its 22nd title, Javee Mocon was considered as the best power forward of the past NCAA season.
The smooth-moving Mocon was a reliable force in the interior for the Red Lions averaging 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds during the eliminations, but at 6-foot-2, he’s not exactly the type of player to force his way in the PBA paint.
This lack of size, however, hasn’t deterred Mocon, whom his Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia described as the “steal of the Draft.”
“Actually this year I trained by myself because I was going into the Draft and I practiced to play as a guard,” said Mocon after the Elasto Painters’ 102-90 loss to NorthPort in a tune-up game Saturday at Green Meadows Clubhouse.
“I got the groove of it because I’m always practicing and the veterans have been supporting me as well,” added Mocon who’s been under the tutelage of Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, James Yap, and Raymond Almazan.
Garcia said Mocon would be playing as a wingman once he starts his PBA career in the 2019 season.
“In the two tune-up games we’ve played probably, Javee is the steal of the Draft at no. 6,” said Garcia of the NCAA Season 94 Finals MVP.
Mocon, though, doesn’t mind his Draft position and he’s just as happy landing at that number as anyone else is.
“For me it’s not about the number. As a player I’m here to provide what I can for the team,” said Mocon. “I don’t mind if I’m not the first, second, or third pick as long as I help the team improve and they see what I’m capable of.”