Bong Quinto has been in many big games with the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights.
But the countdown to the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft has him feeling something for the first time in his 24 years of existence.
“Mixed emotions talaga. Simula nung bata pa lang ako at pumasok ako ng Letran, ito na ang pangarap ko, na talagang makapasok sa PBA,” shared Quinto during the Slam Philippines-hosted Draft Suite.
“Lahat ng paghihirap ko, bukas malalaman mo kung worth it ba.”
During his stellar five-year career in Letran, the 6-foot-1 bruiser has experienced plenty of highs and lows. Some will argue that the highest point of his career was back in the NCAA Season 91 tournament, when Letran put a halt to San Beda’s dynasty. Others will say that his last year with the Knights was the most special, as he was able to lead Letran back to the Final Four after a two-year absence.
This time around, he is no longer fighting for pride. What’s at stake right now is his future.
“Magkaiba talaga ang feeling.
“Iniisip mo lang sa Letran, yung championship. Pero ito kasi, pangarap ko na yung nakataya,” he added.
Still, the Letran lifer shared that his school has already prepared him for this. And come the next chapter of his career, he believes he can be a two-way player – a leader and a follower.
“Hinubog ako sa Letran na maging leader o role player. So sa akin, prepared naman ako. Ito na yung pangarap ko simula noong bata ako, kaya sobrang excited ko lang talaga.”
