MANILA, Philippines — John Ragasa’s name was the last to be called during Sunday’s PBA Draft at Robinson’s Place Manila.
It was not the least.
Ragasa, 25, based in London with his Filipino family, came to the event with braided hair, a beard and just enough swagger.
NorthPort picked Ragasa third in the fifth round. He was 41st overall and the last among 47 hopefuls.
Instantly, there was quite a connection between him and NorthPort mainstays Stanley Pringle and Moa Tautuaa.
The crowd cheered seeing all three on stage with the “James Harden” beard. That night, they were dubbed as “The Three Kings.”
“I have to remind him (Pringle) I have big beard and he has the baby beard,” said Ragasa, in and out of the PBA D-League the last four years.
As teams started to pass late in the draft, Ragasa felt he would be undrafted.
“Honestly, I thought. So, I guess it was a blessing. I was really shocked. It was surreal to be drafted,” he said.
As he spoke to reporters, he felt his phone on his pocket.
“My phone is really vibering right now,” he said, noting that his family was watching the proceedings from London.
“I’m looking forward to everything, every second. Hopefully, I’ll get signed,” Ragasa said.
He grew his hair long for five years, and had it braided like he’s a member of a reggae band.
“I grew it for five years. Just as long as I’ve waited for this day,” he said.
At the moment, there’s no plan cutting his hair short.
“Something really good must happen before I do that. If we win a championship, maybe I can do that,” he said.
That’s his goal – if signed.