Oldest, Shortest PBA Draft Aspirant Hopes To Enter PBA
Oldest, Shortest PBA Draft Aspirant – For the 2016 PBA Draft Combine, held at the Gatorade Hoops Center, a number of aspiring basketball players gather, who came from different universities, colleges, and even in other sorts of life.
One special thing about this draft is that a 43-year-old man is going for the catch as he will be competing with younger and formally trained players for the draft.
Meet Charley Caluya from Parañaque City, the oldest among the 55 aspirants who are looking forward playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Standing at 5-foot-7, Caluya is hopeful that his basketball experience will help him get the ticket to the PBA, even though, according to a report by PhilStar, he has no amateur basketball experience.
“Wala naman akong credentials [compared to the guys in this bunch of aspiring rookies]. Blessing nalang sa’kin na mapasama sa kanila,” Caluya said as quoted.
He added that compared to the games he competed, this was the ‘highest level’.
In the report, Caluya was born on March 22, 1973, is the oldest of them all and next are 28-year-old players named Erwin Duran and Timothy Habelito.
According to Caluya, his most competitive basketball game, he came in was in an inter-barangay league. There, he was hailed as the Rookie of the Year as well as the Most Valuable Player in the said competition.
He added that he was even called ‘Kobe’ as some of his moves are being based on the NBA superstar Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers.
Now, Caluya shares his purpose why he would want to enter PBA. He said that he wanted to help the young ones in his place who didn’t have money to go to school.
“Ginagawa ko ito para sa mga kabataan samin na hindi nakakakapag aral dahil wala silang pera. Ayun ang main purpose ko sa pagsali dito,” he said.
Caluya pointed out that if his number is to be called during the draft, he said that he will be ready to do his best, pass or fail, as according to him, there is no harm in trying.
“‘Pag nandyan na, ipapakita ko ‘yung best ko. Kung mapapansin ako, marmaing salamat. Kung hindi naman, at least nag try ako. Wala namang mawawala sa pagsubok.”
