BACOLOD – Keith Zaldivar couldn’t believe how he ended up as the top vote-getter for the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors Game of the PBA All-Star Bacolod 2024.
The Converge forward was just as surprised as anyone else upon learning that he amassed the most number of votes for the match pitting Team Greats and Team Stalwarts against one another on Saturday at the USLS Coliseum.
“Wala nga rin akong idea kung bakit ako nag-number one,” the young big man told a few reporters a day before the RSJ Game. “Yung dati kong teammate, si Simon Camacho, sinend niya sa akin ‘yung votings.
“Sabi ko, baka nagkamali lang sila,” added the Adamson University product, smiling.
“Sobrang nagulat ako sa number one na ‘yun.”
Zaldivar could only speculate about the reasons, offering that his play for the FiberXers in the PBA On-Tour preseason may have factored in.
“Baka siguro nung On Tour kasi medyo maganda ‘yung naipakita ko, may nakita siguro ‘yung ibang tao na hindi natin ineexpect na maipakita,” he said.
Another possible reason could be his Magnolia stint. It could be recalled that the Aklan-native began his career with the franchise that picked him 12th overall in the Season 47 Draft before being released into free agency last June.
“Isa rin siguro ‘yun. Iniisip ko rin, siguro sa mga fans din ng Magnolia. Kaya ayun. Kasi no. 2 si Jerrick din e, ‘di ba,” he said, referring to Jerrick Ahanmisi, who finished second in the fan poll.
“Si Jerrick, Magnolia rin.”
Nonetheless, Zaldivar is grateful to have been blessed with such an opportunity, and he looks to make the most out of it.
“Hindi ko nga ine-expect ‘yung sarili ko na nasa voting e, na no. 1. Salamat sa mga bumoto na lang sa akin. Pakita ko na lang kung hanggang saan ‘yung makakaya ko sa laro,” said the 27-year-old big man.
