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No more 48-minute platform for Juami Tiongson, at least for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season.
So in his last official appearance at the Governor’s Cup, you can’t blame the sweet-shooting playmaker for taking it seriously during the All-Star weekend side event.
“It’s all equal opportunity for me,” the Terrafirma ace told the Inquirer. “For me, I just have to make the most of things because there are times when I’m not here.”
Tiongson is one of the biggest names left out of the 2023 PBA All-Star Game despite playing well for Dyip this season. So he even made the most of the time as one of the bets in the 3-Point Shootout at the City of Passi Arena last Friday.
He had 26 points in the first half, second only to San Miguel Beer shooter Marcio Lassiter’s 28. Tiongson then had 18 in the final phase of the showpiece Magnolia ace Paul Lee finally ruled.
Designed in 2014, Tiongson says most of his inventions were made through crucibles in his second year.
“I was with Blackwater, about, my second year in the league. I got it [my contract] buy out. I don’t know what to do next,” he said. “My whole life is about basketball. It’s all I’ve ever known. It’s my passion, and my goal is to play professionally. I’ve never had a plan B.”
After that tumultuous episode, Tiongson said he was ready to walk away from the sport and was considering joining his childhood friends who were then in flight school. His mother suggested sticking out with the PBA D-League for a while, and use that time to think through plans.
“They said it couldn’t get any better, so I decided to do whatever I wanted. [outside basketball]. Luckily I listened,” he said with a smile.
“Looking back, it was the D-League job that helped me get noticed. Then coach Yeng [Guiao] get me [for NLEX],” he said.
It’s possible that Tiongson caught a bad break when his career took him to Terrafirma, which hasn’t been a playoff-caliber team for some of the current conference.
But the former Ateneo guard played like a team that was fighting for a championship. And Dyip is one of the teams that have played their schedule this season, Tiongson played the penalty shootout as if the next contract depended on it, even if it ultimately failed.
“Every day, I try to roll the chip on my shoulder because I know what’s underneath,” Tiongson said.
“I don’t like going back,” he added. “Any opportunity that arises, I try to win.” INQ
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