Kyt Jimenez remains unfazed amidst hype ahead of PBA Draft

Kyt Jimenez hardly feels any pressure as one of the more talked-about prospects in the upcoming PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft.

The MPBL star is aware of netizens’ mixed sentiments regarding his bid to make it to Asia’s pioneering pro league, but he doesn’t mind any of it—nor the result of Sunday’s proceedings, whatever it may be.

“Wala po,” he said during the Draft Combine’s last day on Wednesday at Gatorade Hoops Center. “Kasi ‘yung mga tao lang naman sa social media yung nagbibigay ng opinyon kung, ‘Wala, hindi ‘yan first round, hindi ‘yan mapi-pick.’

“Wala po akong pakialam sa mga sinasabi ng tao. Basta ako, may kumuha sa akin na team or wala, OK lang. Sa’kin po, nagawa ko yung best ko; kung hanggang saan ko kaya makarating, alam ko na pinagtrabahuhan ko ‘yun.

“Kaya, ‘yun lang, kung makuha ako, pang-ilang pick ako, walang problema. Basta ginagawa ko ‘yung best ko,” he added.

One of the 128 aspirants in this year’s draft, Jimenez felt that it was time for him to try his luck given his experiences in the past few years.

From being a YouTube sensation with Mav’s Phenomenal Basketball, the former Perpetual guard took his act to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) last year when he signed with Sarangani for his first pro stint.

He made history with the Marlins by registering a quadruple-double of 33 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and 11 steals in their 125-74 win over Mindoro.

The 26-year-old would also see action in the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) with the veteran-laden Davao Occidental Tigers late last year before coming back to the MPBL to suit up for the GenSan Warriors.

“Siguro, ‘yung mga nalaruan ko before like the MPBL, ‘yung tinrabaho ko… lahat ng pinaghirapan ko, siguro ito na ‘yung bunga, lumalabas na siya,” he said.

“Dami na rin nagsasabi and nagpu’push sa’kin na why not subukan ko na this year, wala namang mawawala kung susubukan mo. Kung ‘di mo oras ngayon, maybe next time. Kaya sinubukan ko ngayong taon na ‘to.”

Much has been said about Jimenez and his journey, and so, he hopes that he’d be able to inspire others, especially if he gets picked on Sunday.

“Alam ko marami akong pwedeng ma-share sa kabataan or mga ka-edad ko—or mga mas matanda sa akin na naghahangad makatuntong dito,” said the Jeddah-born cager, who overcame an ACL injury from college.

“Kasi alam ko, ‘yung pinagdaanan ko, hindi siya biro … kaya ako, willing ako to share ‘yung mga experience ko at mga pinagdaanan ko.”