Charles Caluya, 43, is the oldest and shortest player to sign up for the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft. But he’s probably the gutsiest of them all.
“Caluya showed up to the Draft Combine on Wed, Oct 26, and Thu, Oct 27, determined to prove to PBA coaches that he has what it takes to play at a professional level,” reports ABS-CBN Sports.
The report noted: “A graduate of University of the East, Caluya is a long shot. It’s not likely that he’d even be included in the final list of potential draftees.”
You see, the PBA has already tagged Caluya as “not fit to play” based on the results of the tests conducted in Day 1 by Focus Athletics. Sadly, he scored low in the various agility and athleticism tests.
Caluya, though, scores high in optimism. As the report indicated, he is “still making a case for himself as a potential selection on Sun, Oct 30.”
Caluya claims that he was given a letter of invitation and a ticket to the PBA Draft, so he intends to go to Robinsons Place Manila if he makes it to the final list of draftees.
Caluya stated, “Kung hindi, kung wala ako sa official list, eh sana matulungan ako ni Sir Manny Pacquiao at ni Sir Manny Pangilinan (If I’m not on the official list, I hope Sir Manny Pacquiao and Sir Manny Pangilinan can help me).”
Pacquiao is, of course, the Filipino boxing champ. Pangilinan is the former head of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (Basketball League of the Philippines).
Referring to the novelty of someone his age being a possible PBA rookie, Caluya added, “Makaka-attract ako ng more fans. Siyempre, magkakaroon kayo ng interest (I can attract more fans. Of course, they’ll be interested).”
