Oh yeah. This is the first of many instances in which I'll probably do an article on a graduating or eligible player. I don't know the frequency but hopefully, I can make this a weekly thing.
A couple of months after the start of NCAA Season 98, a rumored rift between the player in question and his college team, prompted his exit from the squad, and he has since appeared for Ginebra's 3X3 team.
The player in question is Kim Aurin, and the college team he was once part of is the Perpetual Altas.
In Season 97, Aurin helped the Altas get past the Benilde Blazers in the stepladder playoffs but was defeated by the San Beda Red Lions in the next round. Aurin, a valuable player during their run, went down with chickenpox - leaving Jielo Razon, Jef Egan, Mark Omega, Rey Barcuma, and others with the arduous task of saving their season.
It was said that had Aurin played, and played well for the Altas, then he would have joined the 2022 PBA Draft (Season 47 Draft) - joining the likes of first-rounders Justin Arana, Jeo Ambohot, and JM Calma as well as late-round picks Ato Ular, Christian Fajarito, Allen Mina, and CJ Cadua.
I am not saying that Aurin would have been a first-round guy but most certainly, it's hard to see Aurin dropping to the late third round of the most recent PBA draft.
While I doubt if he made enough statement games to warrant a first-round notice, at least Kim Aurin has a fallback. Aurin is one of Perpetual's most valuable players in the sense that he can lead a team to victory with his offense. However, it also seems that he's a bit distant from his teammates and I guess this translated to the team missing out on the Final Four. Playing for his final year of eligibility meant that he needed to study his options. Inasmuch as there is a commitment, every graduating player without a Japan B-League or KBL contract needs to aspire for the PBA.
This is why the Ginebra 3X3 contract is going to be crucial for his future.
Apart from a possible MPBL, Pilipinas Super League, Filbasket, NBL, and PBA D-League appearance, the last player Ginebra got for the 3X3 is Jayson David - who was picked in the second round by the Gins. Loyalty reaped benefits for the former LPU Pirate. With that said, David going to Ginebra meant that he's possibly going back to 3X3 as he is barely seeing noteworthy action for the squad. Yes, Tim Cone is notorious for benching rookies who haven't acclimated their talents to his system. Still, in David's case, he has no choice with number two pick Jeremiah Gray becoming the top priority.
But this is why Kim Aurin must definitely apply for the 2023 PBA Draft. Aside from most talents playing elsewhere, the Ginebra 3X3 stint is probably the best Plan B he has that other players must envy. Aurin has the possibility of going for a late first-round and early second-round showing. Barring injuries, teams will need an option of a take-charge guy off the bench. And he also has a look - a tattooed pretty boy that for teams like Blackwater, Rain or Shine, Phoenix, and Terrafirma can be signed up as an image model or to that extent.
Of course, it all depends on his landing spot. If he gets picked in the early second round, that means he will be signed up by a weak team. All the time, it's better for a kid to stay in the PBA as a second-rounder especially if he's going to play on a team with a lot of established players like San Miguel, Magnolia, and yeah, Ginebra.
Until then, hopefully, he gets enough action to make a statement.