Irus Chua’s journey to the Gilas Pilipinas Boys’ Under-16 Team is definitely the road less taken by many.
The 5-foot-11 guard is a product of Brent International School.
As everyone knows, Brent does not compete in the major athletic associations in the country. But that did not stop the young Chua from pursuing the game he loves.
Chua competed in numerous youth leagues like NBL-Pilipinas Youth and the Milcu Got Skills Challenge. It was there that he was able to hone his craft and gain recognition as a high-octane scorer.
His exploits also earned him an invite to the NBA Academy.
All his efforts did not go unnoticed, as he was named part of the Gilas team that will head to Surabaya, Indonesia for the 2023 SEABA Under-16 Championship.
“I am very happy to be part of the Gilas pool. It’s an experience that everyone wants to have but not everyone can get, so I’m grateful for this opportunity,” said Chua.
“It wasn’t that I was not expecting it, but I’ll just continue to work hard. When I got the call-up, I just showcased my talents. I hope that I can perform well in the tournament.”
Chua admitted that he has had to make a lot of adjustments to his game in Gilas.
After all, he is no longer the focal point of the offense as he is now part of an elite group of players.
“There are a lot of adjustments that had to be made, but it’s part of the experience. I love working with all my teammates here and my coaches,” he shared.
His NBA Academy experience definitely helped him in his transition into a more organized system.
“I learned a lot of things during the NBA Academy. The coaches there taught us many things that I have applied here. It actually works. It’s great to be part of those camps,” he said.
On Tuesday, the grind will begin for Chua and the rest of Gilas.
For three straight days, they will compete against Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
And all his hard work for the past six months will be put to the test.
For Chua, this will be his chance to prove that he belongs.
