CABATU GETS TIPS FROM BUDDIES PING & JUNE MAR ON COMEBACK BID
If there’s one thing Junjun Cabatu believes would help him get his act back in the PBA, it would be his tenure with the ASEAN Basketball League.
An ABL veteran since its inaugural season, when he saw action with the Philippine Patriots, the son of PBA legend Sonny Cabatu has been a fixture in the regional league, seeing action for the ABL incarnation of the San Miguel Beermen before playing as an ASEAN import for the Singapore Slingers last season.
“I played okay naman. I think nakatulong naman yung ABL stint kahit papaano. At least for me, nakapaglaro pa rin ako for some years outside the PBA,” the younger Cabatu said.
The 6-foot-5 bruiser only suited up in the PBA for three seasons after being one of the direct hires of the Welcoat Dragons, now Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
The following two seasons, he played under Alaska and Ginebra before falling out of the league and soon finding himself in the ABL.
And now, he’s hoping that he’ll be there once KIA announces its final 12.
“Okay naman yung tryouts dito sa KIA. Nagpapakundisyon pa ako actually. Getting ready muna tapos practice-practice, and we’ll see where we’ll get from there,” Cabatu said.
Aside from making the team, the 30-year-old is more into the idea of getting in shape, looking at it as a positive if he does not make the cut.
“Actually, ang iniisip ko ngayon is getting in shape, getting ready anytime. If they sign me, they sign me. If not, it’s okay. At least, I’m healthy and in shape,” Cabatu said.
It also serves as a motivation for Cabatu that he is good friends with Marc Pingris and MVP June Mar Fajardo, as the trio frequently plays online games like DOTA and Heroes of Newearth.
But for his comeback trail, Cabatu said that it is the more seasoned veteran Pingris who is giving him pointers on this trek back to the big league.
“Si Ping, he advices me na magpakundisyon kasi kaya ko naman,” he said. “We’ll see.” (RL)
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