At this day and age, versatility is the name of the game for all athletes across all sports, especially in basketball.
Versatility is what former University of Santo Tomas great Kevin Ferrer desires to exercise this time around, to be able to help Gilas Pilipinas 5.0 do well in the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup in any way he can.
The 23-year-old has been a known scorer — a lethal three-point gunner, to be exact — all throughout his young career. But this time around, he wants to prove that he can also contribute aside from offense.
His goal stems from the role head coach Josh Reyes gave him upon declaring his inclusion into the Gilas 5.0 lineup, when he was tasked to focus more on defending the opposing team’s players.
“Ang binigay sa akin na role ni Coach Josh is sa defense eh. So focus lang ako sa defense.”
“Tutulungan ko yung team na ma-stop yung key players [ng kalaban],” the Former King Tiger said.
Ferrer not only aims to up his defensive game, but also plans to impart his knowledge to the younger and newly-acquired Gilas players, since he is also a mainstay of the Cadets program.
“Yung na experience namin kasama yung mga PBA players — yung Gilas 4 — ituturo at ishe-share namin sa kanila,” added the 6’4″ winger, who attended Gilas practices late 2015 two weeks after the UAAP Finals.
Now that he has become one of the program’s old-timers, Ferrer feels happy but pressured at the same time that he has been given another chance to represent Team Pilipinas.
“Sobrang saya,” said Ferrer of his inclusion.
“Sobrang pressure din, kasi ibang level na ‘to eh. Pero inaaccept namin yung challenge.”
But despite the fact that he is considered one of the team’s stars, and obviously has an edge to be a shoo-in in the line-up, Ferrer had previously felt doubtful that he would make the cut.
“Syempre may feeling na ganun. Hindi naman ganoon kadali makapasok sa national team eh. Marami ring nangangarap,” said the UAAP Season 78 Mythical Five team member.
With the team’s sights all locked on the Challenge Cup in Iran, the six-foot-four wingman is positive and likes Gilas 5.0’s chances in the Asian cagefest.
“Maganda na yung flow namin. Sa tingin ko magiging competitive yung team. Basta gagawin namin yung best namin,” Ferrer ended.
