PBA draft prospect Dalph Panopio at the PBA Draft Combine, September 4, 2025 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- As former Gilas Pilipinas youth player Dalph Panopio pursues his dream on the hard court, along with it comes a huge sacrifice.
Panopio was all smiles and full of energy on Day 1 of the PBA Draft Combine on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
However, he couldn't help but turn emotional when he talked about his family and why he entered the draft.
READ: Out to prove worth and chase dreams, Dalph Panopio declares for PBA Draft
"I think it's real timing eh. Na-swerte po ako, na-chamba, I really feel blessed. It was a family decision. So I think it was just real timing. But the PBA is also something I wanted to do and is something I'm really looking forward to," Panopio told reporters.
"All the decisions I made are for my career, for myself. As much as I want to be with my family, you gotta do what you gotta do," he said.
Panopio could not hold back his tears when he said joining the PBA is not just his childhood dream, but also an aspiration of his father.
The Filipino-Italian guard, who has been in the country for about six months, acknowledged that it is difficult to be away from his family, who are still in Rome.
"My family is not here. Sometimes it's hard. You know everything is new. I do this for my family. I wish they were here to watch and support but it's hard because you know being far from family," he said.
"But it's something that I really like and look forward to because it is something I wanna do," Panopio added.
Now that he's a step closer to his family's dream, the former Gilas Youth playmaker is bent on showing what he's got on the court.
"I really wanna do is I want to make them proud. This is why I do this, it's to make them proud," he said.
"It's like Gilas decision eh. My family always supported me during the Gilas. So during the PBA was the same thing," Panopio shared.
Panopio said despite being away from his immediate family, he has a solid support system here that helps him push to achieve his dream.
"May mga tito, lolo, lola ako dito. Malaki din tulong nila sa akin. Kaya malaki din ang pasasalamat ko sa kanila," he said.
PBA draft prospect Dalph Panopio at the PBA Draft Combine, September 4, 2025 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. PBA Media
After all his stints overseas, Panopio said he will take all his experience and energy to be able to contribute for his future team.
"I'm excited kasi I love the game of basketball. So what I've learned in the United States, in Europe, in Italy, in Korea and India wherever I played madadala ko sa scrimmage and sino makakalaban namin," he said.
"I think I'm just gonna focus on just tryna go as hard and compete and try to win it. Might as well we here, they give us a game and we try to win it and go against the odds," the guard added.
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Panopio said among the players he emulates is NBA icon Tony Parker and his playmaking ability. In the PBA, he looks up to guards Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Terrence Romeo and Kiefer Ravena when he was still in the league.
"There's so many [players] naman eh. They're all talented. I think the PBA is something you shouldn't overlook because there are a lot of talents in the Philippines," he said.
Panopio said he practiced with three teams before the Draft Combine.
Though he will be happy to play with whatever team chooses him, Panopio said he likes the style of Ginebra under the winningest PBA coach Tim Cone.
The PBA Draft will take place on September 7 at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.