MJ GARCIA may have one of the most unconventional routes to the PBA after earning a spot with Converge this season.

Garcia, 26, signed with Converge in the latter part of the 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup after a stint with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL. The No. 72 (eighth round) pick in the Season 48 draft in 2023 is now a rotation player for the FiberXers and even started a game against Blackwater last April 13.

It was a giant leap for the Pampanga native. After all, he played for only 69 seconds in Game 2 of the Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Rain or Shine.

Since then, however, Garcia has seen his playing time gradually increase. Through four games, Garcia is averaging 4.75 points, 3.25 rebounds, and 1.25 steals in 19 minutes for Converge in the Philippine Cup.

Garcia admitted he never thought he would go this far in his basketball career which started at Systems Plus College Foundation, a little-known college in Pampanga. From there, he suited up for Pampanga teams handled by Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda.

Garcia said he never expected to make it to the PBA, but with dedication and a bit of luck, opportunity came knocking.

“Sobrang saya po at thankful sa opportunity na binigay ng mga boss sa akin lalo na po si Gov (Pineda)," Garcia said. "Hindi ko na inexpect na tutungtong ako sa ganitong level. Bata pa lang ako pangarap ko nang makalaro sa PBA."

PHOTO: NBL

It was at Systems Plus College Foundation where it all started. While playing for the school, the 5-foot-10 Garcia made a name in the Pampanga college basketball scene where his skill was engraved in many individual awards. Being one of the top Pampanga players, he represented the province and Central Luzon in the PRISAA Nationals.

Although he mostly played in Pampanga, his reputation grew and was once recruited by Lyceum to play in the NCAA. But the partnership ended not long afterwards. The reason, Garcia said, was homesickness. He missed his province and his friends.

“Nabigyan ako ng chance nung college, na-recruit ako ng LPU pero na-homesick ako hanggang sa umuwi ako, tinapos ko na lang pag-aaral ko,” said Garcia.

He later finished his studies at the school with a major in Business Management, but it was also around this time that the pandemic struck, sending most sports leagues into hibernation.

During the pandemic, Garcia thought his basketball career was over and he explored the idea of going abroad to join his father who worked as a truck driver overseas.

“Pag-graduate ko, kung hindi ako pinalad, susunod sana ako sa papa ko kasi nasa ibang bansa siya. Balak ko mag-OFW na lang para kahit papaano, mabigyan ko ng maayos na buhay ‘yung family ko, kami ng papa po, magtutulong-tulong sana kami. Buti na lang sinwerte [sa Converge] kahit papaano, hindi na lalayo sa family,” Garcia said.

Like most players, Garcia took a sabbatical during the pandemic. But unlike most players, he never stopped working out on his own.

“Hindi ako tumigil. Nag-work out pa rin ako, nag-extra ako, nag-ready lang sa mga tryout baka sakali.”

When pandemic restrictions were eased, Garcia’s reputation as one of the top players in his province grew and it got him an invitation to try out for the Pampanga Delta in the National Basketball League-Pilipinas, an all-homegrown regional basketball league.

“Pagkatapos po ng pandemic, may hinahawakan siya (Pineda) na team na ‘yung province namin Pampanga at homegrown players ‘yung kinukuha niya. Nabigyan ako ng chance. Pinag-tryout po nila ako hanggang sa nagustuhan naman nila ako. Doon po ako nagsimula kay Boss,” Garcia said, referring to Pineda.

“Hindi ko po ine-expect na mala-lineup pa ako. Ang isip ko, reserved lang kasi may team na sila that time tapos bigla na lang nila ako pinatawag na parang reserve lang, tapos nagtuloy-tuloy na po nun,” said Garcia.

PHOTO: NBL

Garcia said he would have actually made it to the Pampanga Delta team a lot earlier, but his desire to finish his studies prompted him not to pursue basketball seriously.

“Actually po, nung fourth year ako, kasalukuyan po akong nag-aaral, na-invite na ako mag-training sa first year ng NBL kay Boss. Sinubukan ko po kaya lang conflict sa schedule ng pag-aaral. ‘Yung ginawa ko na lang po, tinapos ko na lang po ‘yung pag-aaral and then nagbalak ako mag-try pagkatapos. Sinwerte po na na-invite mag-tryout,” said Garcia.

“Nung nabigyan [uli] ako ng opportunity, hindi ko na po pinakawalan,” said Garcia.

Garcia later made it to the MPBL when Pineda coached the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, where he became one of the key players alongside Justine Baltazar, Encho Serrano, and Archie Concepcion, becoming part of two championship teams.

It felt like a dream, Garcia said, when the time came that he was about to play his first PBA game.

“Hindi po ako makapaniwala. Totoo ba ito? Hindi pa nag-sink in sa akin na nasa lineup ba ako? Pinagbihis ako, maglalaro ba talaga ako, parang hindi po mag-sink in,” Garcia said.

“Pakonti-konti, ine-embrace ko na ‘yung opportunity kasi hindi po lahat nabibigyan ng chance na ganito na biglang makakapaglaro sa ganito,” he added.

As he navigates his way in the PBA, Garcia vowed to maintain his mindset of working hard each day, grateful for the rare opportunity that Converge gave him.

“Basta hindi ko po sinasayang ‘yung binibigay na tiwala sa akin. Ready lang po lagi. Mapasok man o hindi, gagawin ko lang po ‘yung part ko,” said Garcia.

Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph