PBA: Sonny Estil downplays solid Ginebra debut — ‘Talo, useless pa rin’

Barangay Ginebra’s Sonny Estil against the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — Barangay Ginebra’s Sonny Estil immediately impressed in his PBA debut on Sunday, but the fan-favorite rookie was quick to downplay the praise that he got afterwards.
 
“Okay ako doon, na maganda ginawa ko,” said Estil, who provided energy off the bench with nine points, seven rebounds, and a block in their 80-73 loss to the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA 50 opener. “Kaso talo. Mas okay 'yung team kami na maganda ang nilalaro, ‘di lang ako.”

Already a proven player for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL, the 6-foot-3 Estil admitted how he still felt jitters given that he is now on a bigger stage.

“Sanay naman ako maglaro ng maraming tao,” he shared. “Pero sa akin lang, PBA na kasi ‘tong nilalaruan ko, so iba na ‘to eh. Andoon 'yung pressure kasi first game ko, pero nilabanan ko naman 'yung pressure na 'yun.”

What helped him overcome this, Estil said, was how well his first practices with the Gin Kings went.

“Sa tuneup games, may rotation naman na,” the 11th overall pick of last month’s draft said. “Pinapasok naman na ako ni coach, para kina Miah [Gray], Stephen Holt, so ginawa ko lang rin 'yun dito.”

But now that his debut is finally in the books, the Agusan del Sur native can now focus on helping Ginebra rediscover its winning ways.

“Babawi na lang ako. Itatama ko 'yung mga pagkakamali ko,” he said. “Siguro, mas magaan na sa next game ko kasi madadala ko na 'yung experience ko.”

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