All that Simon Camacho ever wanted was an opportunity.
He finally got that on Saturday. And boy, did he make the most out of it.
The young utility forward made it a PBA debut to remember. He served as one of Phoenix Super LPG’s energizers off the bench, helping the Fuel Masters run past Blackwater for their second straight win in the Governors’ Cup.
Signed by the ball club just last month following an MVP season in the inaugural Filbasket, Camacho finished with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He also had four rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and an assist in over 15 minutes.
“Sabi niya nga, gusto niya lang mabigyan ng opportunity. And he really proved his worth,” lauded head coach Topex Robinson moments after their 110-99 victory at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The young bench tactician always knew that Camacho would come out swinging once given the chance that he has yearned for. And that’s because he would capitalize on that the same way he did back in the day.
Robinson himself was drafted 44th overall by Tanduay in the 20001 PBA Draft. But it wasn’t until 2003 where he would finally set foot in Asia’s pioneering pro league. Then, he was signed by Yeng Guiao’s Red Bull as a free agent.
Similar to his mentor, Camacho was the no. 34 pick by TNT in the 2019 draft proceedings, though he didn’t receive a contract. But he played so well in the Filbasket that it practically became his ticket to the PBA via Phoenix.
“For me, it’s really personal. When I saw Simon, I saw a lot of myself.
“You know, just waiting for that opportunity. He’s always gonna slug it out,” said Robinson, who turned heads in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League.
With the first game now in the books, the 46-year-old expects Camacho to grow from there. And he’s confident that the Adamson University product will do so big thanks to the support of the Fuel Masters around him.
“He’s gonna make mistakes down the line and what’s important is our veterans are really providing support. That’s huge for us like CB (Chris Banchero), Matt [Wright[, Jason [Perkins], and nobody could doubt Paul’s [Harris] positivity,” he said.
“Again, Simon is really a breath of fresh air for us. You know, he had less preparation than the rest, but he really picked it up because again he has the support of everybody on this team.”
