After just a month, Isaac Go is back to where he started.
Go, who was part of the 2019 PBA-Gilas draftees that eventually signed with their mother teams last month, was part of Chot Reyes’ 16-man pool for the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
And it was an unexpected call-up for the 25-year-old big man from Terrafirma.
“In my mind, it was like like they got tier one and tier two guys,” said Go as the big men in the pool were June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Poy Erram, Mo Tautuaa, and Troy Rosario. “If you’re going to build a PBA lineup, they are definitely the best-of-the-best.
“Kaya ako, I was not expecting to be called up. Nagulat ako because it came from out of nowhere. I had zero expectations and I was not thinking about it.”
Still, it’s a “surreal” feeling for Go, who has been on the radar of Gilas since 2018.
During his first-ever Gilas Men practice, he can never forget one moment.
At that time, Reyes had called up the cadets to train with the elite team, who were training for the second window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Of course, Fajardo was there.
“There’s this exact one play that I remember back then. They had us cadets play defense and I was on the bench. On the floor were Abu [Tratter], Arvin [Tolentino], and one more player. I remember June Mar literally carrying the three of them to get a basket!” recalled Go.
This time around, he gets to be teammates with Fajardo on the same level.
“I’m excited to play with one of the best players in the PBA and to learn from him. It’s going to be a great learning experience.”
Go though has wealth of experiences under his belt since 2018.
Since that time, Go has played in multiple FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers games and, as well as, experienced playing in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
This time though, he won’t have his mentor Tab Baldwin on his side. Still, he can’t wait to learn a new system under Reyes.
Photo by FIBA.basketball
“I understand that there will be different coaches and systems but this will only help me and the team in the end,” he said.
“Now I’m on break to be ready for all these tournaments plus the new PBA season. I know its going to be a grind but this is basketball and para sa bayan e,” he continued as there is a huge possibility that he is also part of Reyes’ 30-man pool for the rest of the year.
“You’d do everything to represent your country.”
