LA Revilla admits that it’s a long shot to be part of Gilas
The Mahindra Floodbuster is not as deep as the majority of teams in the PBA, and many of their players were ineligible to join Gilas Pilipinas.
“We took a look at Mahindra’s lineup. Took a hard look on Alex Mallari but he’s ineligible because he wasn’t born here. Jason Deutchmann is also unavailable,” Gilas head coach Chot Reyes said.
But he has always believed in 5-foot-8 floor general LA Revilla.
“LA Revilla was playing well so that was the choice,” Reyes shared.
Revilla and the Mahindra Floodbuster were just coming off a 91-107 loss to the Alaska Aces that had eliminated them from playoff contention when the announcement was made. And he wasn’t even near the television or near the hard court when he was named as part of the 24-man pool of Gilas Pilipinas 5.0.
“Si coach [Chris Gavina] lang nagsabi sa akin. Sabi ko ‘congrats saan?’ Sabi niya on being selected to the Gilas pool! I was like, “seryoso ba?” nung in-announce na kanina,” the 27-year-old point guard recalled.
“I’m just happy. Very thankful ako to be part of the team.”
Averaging just 6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in eight games this conference, no one could have predicted that he will be part of the lineup. Well, except for one man, his coach Chris Gavina.
“I’ve always told him that he’s easily on of the top ten guards in the nation. He’s always willing to whatever it is when he’s called upon and he’s become such a great leader for our team,” Gavina remarked about the four-year league veteran.
“Hopefully, he has the opportunity to show his wares on the international level.”
Though just like his inclusion to the pool, the 24th overall pick in the 2013 draft knows that it will be tough to crack the final line-up — especially with Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Paul Lee, and Jio Jalalon having the same position. But the De La Salle University alumnus is looking forward to absorbing everything he can from the elite group of which he is now part.
“Excited ako mag-compete, let’s be honest, these guys have been there and they are proven, yung chance maliit pero mas tinitingnan ko yung side na matuto ko sa kanila and puwede kong ikagaling,” the Bacolod native added.
“I’ll just do what the coach asks me to do. All I have to do is just be the point guard, try to be the stabilizer.”
And maybe, he can shock the world anew when he learns to find the next gear in Gilas Pilinas.
