Jimenez will get to grow at his own pace playing for a loaded San Miguel squad.
The 2023 PBA Draft was not only loaded with talent, but it was also full of surprises—with a bevy of risers and fallers that made for a compelling selection process.
One of the fallers was Kyt Jimenez, who was chosen in the ninth round as the 76th pick—ahead of just three other players.
Granted, most fans and pundits probably did not have Jimenez going in the first round. But to fall all the way to the ninth round? That’s something even nonbelievers would not have expected.
Still, things seem to have worked out nicely for the YouTube hoops sensation as he was drafted by the San Miguel Beermen, whose roster, incidentally, includes Jimenez’s idol in Terrence Romeo.
Now, not even a month later, Jimenez appears poised to crack San Miguel’s lineup, having recently signed a two-year contract with the Beermen. And, this early, there is at least one man who thinks San Miguel got a gem of a player—and he was a former PBA Rookie of the Year no less!
That man is Rich Alvarez, Jimenez’s coach in his time with the Gensan Warriors in the MPBL and the PBA Rookie of the Year back in 2005. And Alvarez recently took to Instagram to congratulate his former ward.
“Congrats to this guy @jimenezkrystoffe! Great story, selected 3rd to last in this year’s PBA draft. (Great pick SMB!). Somehow, he worked his way into getting a two-year contract with San Miguel!” wrote the one-time PBA All-Star. “Kit visited us in practice to thank his teammates in Gensan Warriors. Great gesture and happy to see our players rooting for each other. Such a great group of guys. Good luck in your next chapter brother!”
Jimenez, in his own Instagram Story, thanked his coach in response:
Indeed, it has been a great story so far for Jimenez, whose highlights hint of a player who could potentially be the steal of this draft—especially playing next to his idol and in a team as talented as San Miguel. And that means the 76th pick of the 2023 PBA Draft can add to his already wonderful story even more.