Twice before, Justin Chua was deprived of an opportunity of cracking the Philippine men’s basketball team’s roster.
He was part of coach Norman Black’s 2011 pool for the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, but was only good enough to make the squad as a reserve.
Chua had another call up to play, this time for the Gilas Pilipinas squad coached by Tab Baldwin, a few years ago, but the pandemic stalled plans of his potential inclusion in the team.
But third time proved to be the charm as Chua finally cracked the roster of the embattled Philippine team quintet set to compete in the upcoming basketball competition of the SEA Games in Thailand, and the veteran center, who was left without a team to play for in the Philippine Basketball Association this season, found a perfect platform to continue playing the game he loves.
“Naisip ko lang din its always the greatest pleasure to represent the country,” wrote Chua in an online interview with Pinoystep.com.
A door closed, but a window of opportunity was opened for Chua and he’ll use his stint in the national squad as some sort of an audition for a possible return to the pros.
But for Chua, he believes there’s a bigger purpose on why he ended up playing for the Philippine squad at a time when his name is nearly forgotten.
Before the start of the PBA’s 50th season, Chua’s name was no longer on the roster list of all 12 competing teams he waited for the right moment of being called up to play for any team.
He has been working out as early as August, getting himself ready on whichever team needing his services.
“It’s a blessing. I’ve been working out since August not knowing where I will play. At least nagbunga rin sa huli,” said Chua.
Even his inclusion in the national team wasn’t as planned.
In 2011, Chua was among the collegiate stars who were battling for a spot in the national team where players like Greg Slaughter, Nico Salva, Dave Marcelo and Jake Pascual were given more priority to enter the final roster. He ended up as a reserve.
In 2020, Chua was called up by Baldwin to shore up the Gilas team back when the American-Kiwi was given a return tour of duty to serve the national squad and succeed Yeng Guiao.
Plans were stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic and since then, Chua wasn’t even thinking of making it to the national team.
“I was sort of part of the 2011 team. I was a reserve lang kahit wala naman talaga reserve,” said Chua in jest.
Turning serious, Chua felt he had a much better opportunity playing in the national squad when Baldwin handled the team.
“Naudlot ung last Gilas stint ko with Coach Tab because of COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chua.
This time, Chua had a much better outlook on seeing things given the opportunity of finally playing for the Philippine team.
“The main goal is to get the gold medal. Then bahala na if doors will open (for a PBA return),” he added.
Chua’s entry proved to be destined, especially after the organizers of the SEA Games came up with strange rulings for naturalized and Fil-foreign players, whose names were scrapped on the initial list of players submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, preventing participation of naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jason Brickman.
The 6-foot-6 veteran cager hopes it’s never too late to win a gold medal in the national squad, which could drive his potential return to the big league.
