When Allyn Bulanadi threw his name into the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft, all he wanted was to get picked and have the chance to play in Asia’s first-ever pay-for-play league.
However, the product of San Sebastian got more than what he wished for.
In the special Gilas Pilipinas draft, the Alaska Aces used their fourth overall selection to nab the 22-year-old Bulanadi. He, along with Isaac Go (Columbian), Rey Suerte (Blackwater), Matt Nieto (NLEX), and Mike Nieto (Rain or Shine) have been loaned to the Gilas program for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The quintet were also the first members of the 24-man pool released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
“Siyempre masaya ako kasi kahit papaano, nasilip nila ‘yung kakaunting potential ko. So masaya ako kasi ‘yun nga, Gilas ‘yun eh.
“So kumbaga, blessing in disguise ‘yun kasi ang plano ko lang magpa-draft. Tapos biglang sinabihan ako na ‘kasali ka sa pool’, so nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon,” shared the 22-year-old Bulanadi.
Bulanadi – who finished his stellar collegiate career as the NCAA Season 95 tournament’s top scorer with 20.3 points per outing – vows to do everything in his capabilities to help the program, even if it means taking a step back for his more experienced peers.
“Siguro, I’ll just do my thing lang, saka willing naman ako mag step-down, kung pwede mag-role player lang ako. Kasi nandoon na ‘yung mga ano eh, ‘yung mga mas nauna sa ‘kin, ‘yung mga eksperyensadong player. So ‘yung sa ‘kin lang, support lang ako sa kanila,” the Davao native said.
This doesn’t mean, however, that the 6-foot-3 Bulanadi will shy away from the spotlight. He is now in the process of honing his craft in the Chook-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Cup with the Basilan Steel, where he currently averages 23.8 points in just four games.
He believes that this will be a big morale booster for him heading into Gilas’ preparations.
“Nakaka-boost up siya ng morale para sa akin kasi dito, madami akong experience na makukuha dito eh, playing with mga veterans tapos ‘yung iba pa nga ex-PBA [players], ‘di ba? ‘Yun lang, malaking tulong talaga sa ‘kin ‘to.”
No matter what happens, though, Bulanadi promises to give his all for the flag, whether it be from the bench or on the court.
“Kumbaga kung papapasukin ako, kung two minutes o three minutes, ipupokpok ko ‘yan, one hundred percent. Asahan ng Gilas ‘yan.”
