You probably don’t care about Terrafirma Dyip rookie JM Bravo. But you should.
That’s because he embodies resilience and perseverance. He personifies hard work and persistence. And on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, he showed what an undeterred human spirit can do.
JM Bravo Could’ve Just Given Up
A former Lyceum Pirate in the NCAA, JM Bravo could’ve just given up after the year he just had. He could’ve turned his back on hoops.
In September 2024, he suffered a freak spine injury in a game against the San Sebastian Stags that was supposed to sideline him for six to eight months. But he beat the odds and came back a month later, only to be put out of commission again after suffering a concussion against the Arellano University Chiefs that sent him to the hospital.
He beat the odds again, and just as he was restarting his hoops journey, tragedy struck once again. This time, the young man lost his father, to whom he was very close.
All that happened in a span of a year, so no, nobody would’ve blamed JM Bravo if he decided to do something else other than play hoops.
(Warning: Graphic Content)
JM Bravo Honors His Dad with Superb Performance
The former Pirate, though, had no quit in him and worked his way to getting drafted in the PBA Season 50 Draft. He was the 56th pick overall—or essentially an afterthought. But Terrafirma thought otherwise and signed up the 6-foot-3 forward.
“Nakitaan ng coaching staff, ng management ng potential… Number one kasi inside-out, mataas IQ, saka may puso,” the Dyip head coach said after Terrafirma’s victory over the Meralco Bolts on Sunday.
JM Bravo had already shown that big heart in life. On Sunday against the Bolts, he showed that high hoops IQ and that inside-out game Tubid alluded to, scoring 18 big points on three triples and grabbing eight rebounds as a starter for the Dyip.
Postgame, Bravo admitted to being surprised at making it this far.
“Sobrang special para sa ‘kin ‘to, kasi nga dahil sa last year ‘yung nangyari sa ‘kin. Sobrang struggle ‘yung nagyari sa ‘kin. Hindi ko na iniintindi ‘yun. Past ko na ‘yun, nilayo ko na sa ‘kin. Sabi ko magfo-focus nalang ako sa now ko,” Palma told reporters. “Sobrang nagulat ako. Siguro kaya ko nandito dahil sa papa ko. Gina-guide niya ko. Ngayong taon kasi namatay tatay ko. Sabi ko nga sa kaniya, hindi ako susuko makapasok lang ako sa professional league.”
It was special, indeed, after all that JM Bravo endured in just one year. And as he lived out his dream on Sunday against Meralco, you can bet the elder Bravo was smiling at and rooting for his son.
So, should you care about JM Bravo? Maybe not. But maybe you should.
