What started out as a witty wordplay on his surname could become a reality — depending, of course, on how Sonny Estil responds to the challenge.
The unheralded cager from San Luis, Agusan del Sur, vowed to go all-out in proving his worth after being selected by Barangay Ginebra during the PBA Season 50 Draft on Sunday.
“Nagulat ako na Ginebra,” he told reporters during the proceedings at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
“Tinawag ako … Pero thankful ako kay God. Kung ano ‘yung binigay Niya sa akin, tatanggapin ko ‘yon. Pagtatrabahuhan ko.”
Fans and netizens online touted Estil as possibly the steal — or, in their words, the ‘Estil’ — of the draft after bagging MVP honors in the recent Draft Combine at the Ynares Sports Arena.
He earned the award after helping Team A2-Barangay Ginebra to a 37-35 come-from-behind win over San Miguel in the tournament finale.
There, Estil came through with the eventual game-winning lay-up with 1.6 seconds left to play, helping his side complete the rally from down 32-30.
(C) PBA Images
Barely 72 hours later, and he’d find himself getting drafted by none other than the crowd darlings at No.11, making him the surprise pick of the first round.
Asked if the September 4-5 showcase for aspirants helped elevate his stock, Estil believes so, adding that he may have left an impression on Ginebra assistant Olsen Racela, who manned the sidelines for Team A2.
“Siguro po, kasi si Coach Olsen talaga, ‘yung gusto niya ‘yung ma-hustle na player e, na go hard palagi,” the guard who plays for Pampanga in the MPBL said.
Hustle and defense are what Estil takes pride in, and that won’t change, he said, now that he tries to crack the loaded Ginebra lineup for the upcoming season.
“Ibibigay ko lang ‘yung hustle lagi, ‘yung depensa. Yun ang no. 1 na gagawin ko,” he said.
“‘Yung opensa, [bonus] na lang ‘yun, ‘pag na-shoot natin. Pero depensa talaga, doon ako kukuha ng pawis para makamit ‘yung panalo.”
