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| Denzel Wong debuted as a player for Titan Ultra against Macau, where he is also listed as part of the coaching staff. Peter Baltazar (file photo) |
MANILA—Titan Ultra paraded a new player in its Tuesday night game against Macau in Denzel Wong, but it triggered some puzzling among PBA fans.
As it turned out, one of the assistant coaches the Giant Pandas listed in their opening night roster for the Governors' Cup also went by the name "Denzel Wong", and the coach and the player are one and the same.
How did that happen?
PBA officials confirmed that Macau let go of Wong recently, prompting Titan Ultra to sign him up as a player.
Now, how did he become eligible as a player?
Wong's PBA player eligibility takes us back to 2024, when NLEX drafted him in the fourth round of that year's draft.
However, the team did not offer a contract tender to the five-foot-eight guard, making him an unrestricted free agent.
He did have some taste of pro basketball before declaring for the 2024 PBA Draft, suiting up for Batangas City and Quezon City in the MPBL, Makabayan and Phuket in Asiabasket, Manila and Camarines Norte in the PSL, and Naic in TAT, where Macau also plays.
He also had some management roles in various teams.
Two years after he was drafted to the PBA, the Giant Risers took a chance on the now 33-year-old La Salle and NU-APC alumnus.
Curiously enough, his PBA debut came against the Giant Pandas, which caused the roster confusion.
Wong tallied three points, one rebound, and one assist in nine minutes of action in his maiden PBA voyage.
However, his three fouls and two turnovers despite limited playing time are proof that the top-tier league is still an uncharted territory for him.
Still, Wong finally got probably his long-time wish to make it to the PBA.
