Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) Zamboanga Valientes

Basketball

Kyt Jimenez takes risk to revive career


After an uneventful stint with San Miguel in the PBA, Kyt Jimenez is eager to reignite his career as he joins the Zamboanga Valientes for the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship.

Jimenez, selected as the 76th overall pick in the 2023 PBA Draft, was excluded from the Beermen’s roster for the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup last November.

Now, he hopes to make a fresh start with the Valientes in the prestigious Dubai tournament.

The former YouTube sensation experienced limited playing time during his tenure with San Miguel, hindered by a string of unfortunate events.

These included an elbow to the face during his debut and a freak accident involving an ice bath that sidelined him for several games.

Joining Zamboanga offers Jimenez a chance to recapture the form that made him a fan favorite during his time with Mavs Phenomenal.

His viral performances there led to a stint with the Sarangani Marlins in the MPBL and eventually earned him a shot in the PBA.

“Siguro kung paano ako nakilala ng tao before ako maglaro sa PBA, ‘yun ‘yung gusto kong mabalik. Kung paano ako nakilala talaga and siguro hihigitan ko pa ‘yun,” Jimenez shared during Zamboanga’s open practice at Activate Hoops Arena last Tuesday.

Although still under contract with the Beermen until later this year, the 27-year-old guard chose to take a risk, suiting up for the Valientes in an effort to revive his basketball journey.

“For me, nag-take lang ako ng risk. Kasi siyempre, hindi naman tayo pabata. Lumilipas ‘yung sikat natin, ‘yung galing natin,” said the former Perpetual Help standout.

#ReadMore  Kevin Alas plays through past injuries at Ynares, focuses on blessings over bad luck

“Nag-take ako ng risk na why not subukan ko ulit? Kasi syempre, ang tagal ko na ring hindi nakapaglaro so kinausap ako ni boss Junnie (Navarro) kaya ayun, ginrab ko na ‘yung opportunity,” he added.

Jimenez will have to compete for minutes in a deep Valientes backcourt, which features key players like Mike Tolomia, Rudy Lingganay, Rashawn McCarthy, and UST standouts Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero.

The Zamboanga Valientes are scheduled to depart for Dubai on Friday and will kick off their Pool B campaign against Sagesse SC of Lebanon on Tuesday.

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

Three interested buyers are now in talks with the Philippine Basketball Association now that Starhorse Shipping Lines, Inc. is out of the picture. Two...

Basketball

Jeremiah Gray is hoping for the best after hurting his right knee during Ginebra’s eventual win over Terrafirma in their PBA Philippine Cup opener...

Basketball

Ginebra found itself opening its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup campaign in the very same venue it lost to TNT weeks ago. But the...

Basketball

It was not a case of ‘championship hangover’ as to why TNT fell flat in its PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup opener against NLEX...

Basketball

Much of the attention was inevitably on TNT and its quest for a rare Grand Slam feat, but NLEX refused to become a mere...

Basketball

The PBA is no longer pushing through with its 2025 All-Star festivities. Commissioner Willie Marcial admitted that the prospective host is unavailable to hold...

Basketball

Three weeks after trading JM Calma, Northport pulled the trigger on another frontcourt shake-up, sending Abu Tratter to Blackwater in exchange for James Kwekuteye...

Basketball

Mark Barroca delivering in the clutch on Wednesday was proof that Magnolia’s shift in its approach for the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup is...

Advertisement