JK Casiño’s lifelong dream was finally realized on Friday night.
Left unsigned by the Phoenix Fuel Masters after the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, the diminutive point guard debuted for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their 2018 Commissioner’s Cup opener.
Casiño had three points, three caroms, two steals, and a dime in the 109-103 win over the Alaska Aces. Minute numbers for some, but it was enough to earn praises from coach Caloy Garcia.
“Even Casiño came out and played terrific today,” said Garcia of Casiño, whom he used for over 17 minutes.
With his first game in the books, Casiño still could not believe that, at last, he has now set foot in the pros — a culmination of his dreams from his humble beginnings in Misamis Oriental.
“It’s like living the dream,” said the product of the CEU Scorpions basketball program. “Siyempre lahat naman ng basketbolista pangarap makapunta ng PBA. Yun, nandito na ‘ko.
“Ngayong andito na ‘ko, sabi ko sa sarili ko na binigay na ni God yung etong ngayon, I’ll make the most out of it. Yun. Buti na lang, nakapag-deliver ako, at saka may panalo pa.”
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It may sound clichè, but Casiño’s road to his pro debut is a solid example of perseverance.
Casiño bared that he has been reporting for Rain or Shine practices even if he’s not getting any compensation whatsoever — his motivation to be in the PBA fueled him to do as much.
“May mga opportunites sana na ma-lineup na ‘ko last conference, eh yun ‘di natuloy, ‘di nag-push through,” he recalled. “Sabi nila sa’kin is pwede pa ‘ko mag-practice sa kanila.
“Pero no commitment — walang sahod, walang kung ano,” cconfessed the well-spoken Casiño. “So sabi ko sa sarili ko, andito na rin ako eh. May PBA team na ‘ko na pinagpa-praktisan.
“At least nasa PBA pa rin ako kahit practice lang.”
That and all, even if it means that he has to do tedious double duties: one with Rain or Shine, and the other with the PBA D-League — he played for Go For Gold Scratchers this 2018 Aspirants’ Cup.
“So naglalaro ako sa Go For Gold, tapos nagpa-practice ako sa kanila kahit walang sahod. So after ng D-League, diretso roon ako sa kanila, takbo lang ako,” said Casiño.
“Ang sabi nga nila sa’kin kahit mag-focus lang ako sa D-League, sabi ko, ‘de coach, magpapraktis pa rin ako.'”
Now that he has cracked into the Elasto Painters’ lineup, Casiño couldn’t be grateful enough. And for him, all the hard work and the sacrifices he made has truly paid off. Simple as that.
“Kumbaga sa isip-isip ko na lang, bahala na kayo maawa sa’kin, parang ganon,” quipped Casiño with a wide grin and a laugh. “Parang sabi ko, nandito lang ako magtiya-tiyaga.
“Hanggang sa ‘di niyo ‘ko pinapaalis, ‘di ako aalis dito. Bahala na kayo maawa sa’kin, parang yun na lang siguro. Ayun buti na lang naawa nga.”
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All eyes are now on Casiño to see if he can be a major part of Rain or Shine’s guard rotation, which features the likes of Chris Tiu, Maverick Ahanmisi, Ed Daquioag, and Gabe Norwood.
Rain or Shine’s next game will be against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel this Sunday. It will be an early test for Casiño, but for him, he’ll do his best not to get caught up with the rivalry affair.
“Pagka-Ginebra, iba talaga yung atmosphere. So ako siguro, ‘di ko na titignan kung sinuman makakalaban namin,” he said. “‘Di ko na lang aanuhin na ma-starstruck o kung ano.”
“Basta gagawin ko na lang kung anong ipapagawa nila sa’kin.”
The only thing that he can promise is that he’ll be ready whenever Garcia calls him from the bench to play. “Kung hugutin man ako, sabi ko nga kay Coach Caloy, I’ll always be ready to play.
“Tuloy lang ang trabaho.”
