If there’s someone who helped Frankie Lim ease into his job as chief tactician of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas, it’s certainly AJ Coronel.
Coronel, who stands at 6-foot-2, played literally every position there is in his four-year stay in Perpetual.
He played both guard positions when Aric del Rosario was still the head coach four years ago. And when his build grew, he played the three and the four – and even the center position at times under Nosa Omorogbe and Lim.
And when the native of Tarlac played his final game for Perpetual, Lim sang praises for the Perpetual lifer.
“He is a willing learner and can play multiple positions. Talagang mami-miss ko siya,” Lim admimtted about Coronel, who averaged 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in his final year.
“I think AJ won’t have a problem finding a job.”
After exhausting his playing years, Coronel looks to fulfill his basketball dream by joining the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft.
And the versatile cager wants to continue what he is doing if ever he gets drafted.
“If ever may magdra-draft sa akin, gagawin ko lang yung mga sinasabi sa akin ng coaches. Nakita niyo naman sa Perpetual, yun yung trabaho ko,” said Coronel after the two-day combine.
“Minsan uno, minsan singko, madalas dos o tres.”
However, even he would admit that he underwhelmed during the combine. But if ever he does not get drafted, the 22-year-old vows to continue working hard to achieve his PBA dream.
“Tuloy pa rin yung buhay. May MPBL pa naman eh. Magpupursige ako dun. Siguro kung ‘di ako ma-draft, yung MPBL yung magiging way ko papunta sa PBA. Ito yung pangarap ko eh.
“Tapos na rin school ko eh, waiting na rin ako sa graduation kaya makaka-focus ako,” he shared.
