Owen Graham has finally tasted what it’s like playing in the PBA D-League, as he made his debut for the AMA Online Education Titans on Monday, in the opening salvo of the 2018 Foundation Cup at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.
The Filipino-Canadian, AMA’s top pick in the 2017 D-League Draft, failed to suit up for the Titans in the 2018 Aspirants’ Cup due to paper issues. Currently, he is playing not as a local but as an import, as his camp is still trying to sort things out.
“There was a complication in my paperwork right now. So what they did instead was they got me on as an import, and in the meantime we’re still in the process of trying to get me to fix my papers,” shared Graham.
Once he gets his papers done, he can be eligible to partake in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft — although only if he will play a total of 14 games. That would truly be tough, as the Titans need to reach the Finals to reaches that many matches.
Which is why Graham is hard-pressed to help AMA rack up wins in the six-team conference. The lanky 6-foot-4 forward showed what he can bring to the table in his debut by producing 11 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks.
Unfortunately, the TIP-backed Marinerong Pilipino Skippers gave him a rude welcome, 83-95.
“I was a bit shaking at the beginning, a bit nervous. But I’m not really focused on me right now. I’m focused on trying to get this organization to a winning start. Unfortunately we came up short,” said the well-spoken cager.
“[And] We lost a lot of pieces actually, that’s why we gotta really work hard at rebuilding and also get on the winning track,” he added. “We gotta get a better reputation in this league and get some more respect out there.
“That’s my number one goal right now: win as many games as possible with these guys.”
