L-Jay Gonzales is eager to finally transition to the PBA and join his fellow Far Eastern University (FEU) alumni who have had impressive rookie seasons.
Gonzales is anticipated to be a mid-to-late first-round pick in Sunday’s Rookie Draft. He might become either a teammate or rival of Barangay Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos or NLEX’s Xyrus Torres, who both entered the Draft last year.
“I was supposed to join them last year,” Gonzales remarked, expressing some envy over watching Abarrientos and Torres excel in the big league.
The trio played together at FEU from high school through the UAAP collegiate division. Abarrientos gained experience in Japan and South Korea before being picked third by Ginebra, while Torres was selected in the third round by NLEX. Both players stood out during Season 49, with Abarrientos emerging as a potential Rookie of the Year and Torres making a significant impact after joining midseason via the MPBL with Quezon.
Gonzales remained with the Quezon Huskers in the regional league, contributing to their reach to the 2024 Finals and playing a pivotal role in maintaining their South Division lead this season. After concluding his MPBL commitments, Gonzales is set to follow in the footsteps of Abarrientos and Torres, aiming to be an essential part of the team that selects him during Sunday’s event at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
“I’m happy to see them succeed in the PBA. They’ve performed their roles well, and now it’s my turn,” he said. “I will fulfill whatever role is asked of me and give it my all.”
Leading up to the Draft, Gonzales has been busy with the MPBL season while attending team workouts that have shown interest in him. He also participated with Team D-1 San Miguel, reaching the mini-tournament final in the Draft Combine.
