AJ Edu believes he made the right decision to fly to the United States. —PHOTO FROM FIBA.BASKETBALL
When Ariel John “AJ” Edu talks about the benefits of exploring the world beyond one’s comfort zone, he’s talking from experience.
“There’s a lot of stuff out there that’s different … I feel like it’s a great experience, a learning curve to experience in terms of developing your game,” the former Batang Gilas standout told the Inquirer’s SportsIQ.
Edu uprooted himself from the United Kingdom, where he grew up, in pursuit of the NBA dream. He is currently playing for the University of Toledo in Ohio, a Division 1 program in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“When I first came to the States, there’s a bit of a culture shock,” the 21-year-old Filipino-Nigerian said. “There’s a bit of missing my family and stuff like that. But I feel like when time goes on, you just get used to it.”
“It could be really difficult at times. I’ve been away from the family and stuff, but I feel like this is what I needed to do. My dream has always been to play basketball in the States so when the opportunity came, there was no hesitation,” Edu added.
That explains why Edu throws his support to Filipino players who look to expand their horizons by playing overseas.
“An example is Jack (Danielle Animam) and Thirdy (Ravena) going into different countries in Asia,” said Edu.
“It will be a great experience for them not only on the court but for them, personally, to just experience an entirely different culture,” he added.
Animam plays varsity hoops in Taiwan while Ravena struts his wares in Japan’s B.League. A few young Filipino cagers have recently followed their lead, including Kobe Paras.
While the jury is still out on whether those players made the right decision, Edu said he was happy he made his move.
“Personally, it’s been great for me getting out of the UK,” he said. “My dream is to play in the NBA one day. I feel like I’m in the right place to do that.” INQ