Troy Rike has been in his motherland for a little over a year. And to help him transition better to the Philippine lifestyle, he picked the agency that will help his transition even further.
Last Thursday, the 6-foot-7 big man signed with top-tier sports agency HypeSports X EMBM. The contract signing was held at UCC Clockwork Cafe in Capitol Commons, Pasig.
For the former National University Bulldog, it was a no-brainer to sign with the agency as the combined experiences of the people in charge have led to good things for their clientele — both on and off the hardcourt.
“I really just thought that it was the perfect fit for me in my career and what I want moving forward. Once I saw EMBM and Hypesports combining forces, you really get the best of both worlds,” the 23-year-old California-born Filipino shared.
“It was tough for me to say no to them.”
Rike gained notoriety during the brawl that happened between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australia Boomers last year in Bulacan. During the heat of the melee, Rike risked his body to stop his teammates from ganging up against an Australian player.
“We’re thrilled to have him as part of our agency because aside from his skills on the court, he’s also a fantastic person. He’s down-to-earth, his work ethic is very good, and he’s one of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet,” agency Head of Public Relations Naveen Ganglani said.
“We’re confident our relationship with him will go beyond basketball and last for a very long time.”
Currently, Rike, who played four years in Wake Forest, is with the AMA Online Education Titans in the PBA D-League and the Pasig-Grindhouse Kings in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3. Playing for those two squads have helped him learn more about the Philippine style as he enters the pivotal stage that will make or break his draft stock come the 2020 PBA Rookie Draft.
“Definitely, that’s an option that I’m looking at,” Rike remarked about entering the draft. “I still have a lot to learn and I feel like I’m transitioning well. I’ve been here for a while and starting to understand what type of basketball we play here.
“Now, I’m working on developing myself so I can position myself to have a long career here.”
Seeing this, the agency will exhaust their resources on helping Rike find the next level.
“Of course, he is a legitimate Division I player. I think it’s his versatility in his position that stands out the most. He is going to be an asset to any team he goes to with his size,” opined agency partner Marvin Espiritu.
“For us, our goal is to help him get to his potential, to his true potential.”
