Garvo Lanete says 2015 PBA Rookie Draft will be worth the wait

Is there a bit of envy? Garvo Lanete says there is. Lanete will see friends and teammates turn pro during this year’s PBA Rookie Draft. He wishes he could turn pro with all of them now. But he wants to stick to the plan, envy or no envy. He will wait one more season, spend the next year training with the Gilas Cadets and hope to further improve other facets of his game. When he finally signs up for the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft, Lanete is certain it will be worth the wait.

MH: Why are you skipping the 2014 Rookie Draft?

GL: Ako personally gusto ko na mag-PBA siyempre. Pero ang feeling ko naman is may kulang pa sa laro ko. Gusto ko mag-improve pa. Gusto ko pa mag-mature as a player. Gusto ko pa i-improve decision-making ko. Gusto ko when I join the draft, reading-ready na ako mag-PBA.

MH: So this year, ano ang plano mo para mag-improve ka pa?

GL: Maghahanda ako for next year’s draft. I-improve ko lahat ng weaknesses ko. Kung may liga na international I’ll have that opportunity and may D-League naman. Pero mag-te-train talaga ako for next year’s draft.

MH: Hindi ka ba, kahit paano, naiinggit kasi may mga kaibigan ka, may mga teammate ka na makakapag-PBA na ngayon?

GL: Siyempre sir meron naman pero I’m happy for them. Kasi personally, I know what’s best for me. But I’m happy for them kasi mga kaibigan ko din sila. Pangarap din nila yan.

MH: Was it a difficult decision to not join this year’s draft? Pinag-isipan mo ba mabuti or was it an easy decision?

GL: Siyempre I consulted my family. I also consulted my agent, humingi ako ng advice. Sabi nila at the end of the day, ako pa din ang mag-de-decide. Ako ang nakakaalam kung ano ang best for me.

MH: Mas marami ba ang nagsabi sa iyo na magpa-draft ka na or mas marami ba ang nagsabi sa iyo na pahinog ka muna before turning pro?

GL: Karamihan naman ang sinabi susuportahan nila ako kung ano man ang decision ko. Kahit yung family ko sabi nila magiging happy naman sila kahit ano maging decision ko. Actually yung parents ko sinabi din na, ‘Sige pwede next year ka na.’ Marami din kasi guards na magpapa-draft ngayon.

MH: You’re 25 years old. Hindi ka naman nagmamadali? You’re okay to enter the PBA at 26 or 27 years old?

GL: Okay lang naman sir. As long as I get to play sa PBA and as long as ready ako.

MH: So you’ll be staying with the Gilas Cadets. How many tournaments do you expect to play in the coming year?

GL: Wala pang schedule. Pero mayroon naman akong sinusunod na training plan. Actually, ngayon pa lang nagsisimula na ako. Kasi kung gusto mo talaga mag-improve kailangan dadaan ka talaga sa hirap.

MH: Among the players in this year’s rookie draft, sino ang makakatulong kaagad sa mga PBA teams na kukuha sa kanila?

GL: Of course yung mga teammates ko kasi siyempre kilala ko sila and alam ko yung laro nila and kung paano sila mag-work. Si Kevin (Alas), si Jake (Pascual), si Matt (Rosser), and Ronald (Pascual) and si Rome (Dela Rosa) makakatulong sila agad. Si (Stanley) Pringle and (Chris) Banchero hindi ko pa kasi alam laro nila.

MH: With regard to staying with the Gilas Cadets, mukhang masaya ka naman playing under their cadet program. Bakit masaya ka training and playing with them?

GL: Okay talaga sa Gilas. Never nila ako pinabayaan. Marami kaming nakukuha na opportunities kaya magiging masaya ka. May nag-advice sa akin and sabi niya, ‘Kung saan ka masaya ka, doon ka. Doon ka, kung saan ka happy.’ Eh masaya naman po ako sa Gilas.

MH: Last question. Sure ka na that in the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft sasali ka na?

GL: Yes sir. Sure na ‘yun.