Kyles Lao, a former stalwart of University of the Philippines, has submitted his application for the PBA Rookie Draft, joining fellow former UAAP and NCAA standouts in the annual festivity.
Lao, who is currently playing for the Manila Stars in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), believes he has done enough preparations to play in the pro league.
“I have mixed feelings about it. I’m excited and yet anxious,” said Lao, a 6-foot combo guard who won Rookie of the Year honors with the Fighting Maroons back in 2013 in the UAAP.
The Rookie Draft is set on Dec. 16 at the Robinson’s Place in Ermita, Manila.
“It’s a dream for me to play in the PBA ever since I was young. It’s also a dream for my family. But there is also pressure because I don’t know what will happen. It’s not a sure thing if I’ll be selected in the first or second round, or if I’ll be picked in the Draft,” added Lao.
Aside from Lao, others who signified their intensions are Lyceum’s CJ Perez, San Beda’s Robert Bolick, NU’s Bobby Parks, Jr., Jason Brickman and Lawrence Domingo.
The 23-year-old Lao said his four seasons at UP under head coaches Bo Perasol, Ricky Dandan and Rey Madrid, his stint with AMA under coach Mark Herrera in the PBA D-League, and currently with coach Philip Cezar with the Manila Stars, have improved his skills to play in the pro league.
Lao is playing well so far as a back up guard of the Manila Stars, averaging nearly 10 points per game, including 13 points a game in the team’s three-game win streak the past two weeks, and has a +10 efficiency rating.
