Fil-Indo to join PBA draft

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-Indonesian guard Ebrahim (Biboy) Enguio is playing as a naturalized import for Indonesia in men’s basketball at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and hopes to make an impact as the 6-foot guard is set to join the PBA draft on Oct. 29.

Enguio, 29, scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Indonesia’s 89-73 win over Vietnam to open its SEA Games campaign last Sunday. Indonesia is bracketed with Vietnam, Singapore, Laos and Cambodia in Group B while the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar are in Group A. The top two finishers of each group after the round robin preliminaries advance to the semifinals with the winners to dispute the gold medal on Saturday.

Enguio was born in Alabang to a Balinese father Salim Lukman and Filipina mother Julieta Lopez. The high-leaping dunk artist played two seasons with UE in the UAAP then saw action in the Indonesian league where he was Rookie of the Year in 2013 and Sixth Man of the Year in 2014. He was on the Indonesian national team that took second place at the 2014 SEABA Cup and the 2015 SEA Games. Enguio has played for Cobra and Boracay in the PBA D-League and would’ve suited up for Marinerong Pilipino in the ongoing Foundation Cup if not for a call to rejoin the Indonesian squad in the SEA Games.

“The PBA has been my ultimate dream since I was a child,” Enguio told The Star in a text yesterday. “Right after college, I played in the D-League then was offered to play in Indonesia. I grabbed it to give my family assurance. Now, because of my family, I’ll try to play in the PBA to be with my wife Sara and our three kids instead of working abroad.”

Since Enguio acquired his Indonesian passport after turning 16 in 2013, he is classified as a naturalized import by FIBA. Two days before the D-League Foundation Cup started last May, Enguio was told to report to training camp in Indonesia and had to leave the Skippers. 

“Biboy practiced with us for two months and played in all of our tune-up games, including a win over Cignal,” said Skippers coach Koy Banal. “Biboy moved up to the starting lineup after Kenneth Ighalo was elevated to the PBA. He would’ve been banned in Indonesia if he didn’t show up for training camp. I advised him to go because he would learn a lot training with the Indonesian team in the US and Lithuania.”

Banal said Enguio would’ve made a difference with Marinerong Pilipino. “He’s a rebounding guard, definitely a potential PBA player,” said Banal. “In the coming draft, I see him getting picked late in the first round or early in the second, depending on who’s available. He can play two or three, jump, defend and finish. At UE, he played for coach Lawrence Chongson. Biboy was comfortable with our team and learned a lot from our coaching staff especially from my brother Joel.” Marinerong Pilipino team official and PBA broadcaster Chiqui Reyes said Enguio is a future PBA star. “He’s a go-to guy with a three-point shot,” said Reyes. “I’m excited to see how he’ll adjust to the PBA’s coaching and playing level.”