Before making his way to the PBA with TNT, Jielo Razon stamped class in the NCAA and MPBL.
When he didn’t hear his name get called during the recent PBA Draft, Jielo Razon refused to feel down.
Instead, the former Perpetual Help star simply trusted God’s plans.
“Before naman ng Draft di ako nage-expect. Kung wala, will ni God yun. May plano para sakin. Ayun nga, napaganda pa,” said Razon.
Indeed, God had better plans.
After exploding for 34 points in Paranaque’s win over Mindoro in the MPBL a day after the Draft, Razon got a message from his agent Danny Espiritu and TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa.
Days later, Razon found himself joining the Tropang Giga in a training camp in Cebu for the PBA’s 49th season.
As he was still suiting up for Paranaque in the MPBL, the cager from Las Piñas City spent the first conference as a practice player before signing his first PBA contract with the flagship MVP franchise.
"Sinurender ko na lang kay God. Kahit anong mangyari alam kong may plano siya saking mas maganda," he said. "If ever may draft siguro sakin nun, malay mo di rin ako maka-sign. Plano siguro ni God na di ako ma-draft pero may makakakita sakin sa ibang way."
Razon made his official PBA debut on Friday, Dec. 7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium where he logged 10 minutes and 36 seconds.
Making the most of his hard-earned minutes, he finished with two points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal, but TNT fell prey to guest team Eastern, 105-84 in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
The loss did not dampen his spirit one bit, as Razon finally realized a lifelong dream of playing in the big leagues.
“Medyo excited na kinakabahan. Kasi unexpected na, pangarap lang ng mga bata pa na makalaro sa PBA, isa ako sa mga nakatupad,” he said.
The work doesn’t stop here, of course.
Razon knows there’s much work cut out for him as he looks to make a name for himself in the PBA after stamping class in the NCAA and the MPBL.