Lyceum of the Philippines University skipper Enoch Valdez can’t wait to bring his A-game to the NLEX Road Warriors in the Philippine Basketball Association.
After the Pirates failed to make it to the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 men’s basketball tournament, Valdez is now looking forward to his PBA debut for the team that picked him 18th overall in the draft.
Having exhausted his five playing years for the Intramuros-based team, Valdez swears he doesn’t have any regrets after helping the Pirates make it to the championship series in 2018 — his rookie year — and the Final Four thrice in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
“I don’t feel sorry for myself. I did my job and defended the star player of San Beda and scored 28 points,” Valdez said.
“I gave it my all so I have no regrets,” he added.
San Beda dealt Lyceum and Valdez the death blow with an 82-72 last Friday as the Pirates’ twice-to-beat advantage went down the drain. The Red Lions won the opener, 89-68.
Season 97, which started in March 2022, was the only time the 23-year-old cager missed the playoffs as the league was just returning after the Covid-19 pandemic.
While Lyceum will have to play against College of Saint Benilde in a bronze medal match on 10 December, Valdez said he won’t be around as he will be focused on playing for NLEX.
Edgar Mangahas, Valdez’s agent, posted on social media yesterday that the flamboyant guard signed a two-year deal with the Road Warriors
