Ever since he was in Grade 5, Ziv Espinas lived by one piece of advice given to him by his father Gabby.
“Lagi niya sinasabi na kahit bata ang kalaban ko, hindi dapat parang bata ang laro ko. Dapat lagi mataas ang nilalaro ko.”
It’s the mantra he lived by during his debut season in the NCAA when he was with Lyceum of the Philippines University-Cavite.
This is also the mindset he will bring this year when he begins his first year with Ateneo High School.
But he could not say the same in Gilas Pilipinas Boys.
After all, the 6-foot-2 forward, who is just 15 years old, will be competing alongside and against 16-year-olds in the SEABA Under-16 Championship this week.
“Kahit born ’08 ako, binigyan ako ng chance ni Lord and ni Coach Josh [Reyes] na makasama dito sa Gilas,” said Espinas.
“Kondisyon ako at talagang ready ang katawan ko ngayon. Every time na may pinapagawa yung coaches na mahirap, kayang kaya ko siya.”
It will be a grind for Espinas and the rest of the team as they will play in three games in three days.
And the tournament has the highest of stakes as it will have two tickets at stake for the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship.
That is why Espinas vows not to back down from this challenge.
“Ginagawa ko ‘to para sa pamilya ko. Gusto ko maging good example sa mga kapatid ko,” he said.
“Kahit ganito yung edad ko, ready na ready ako dito.”
