TOP PLAYERS WON'T HEAD OVERSEAS IF THEY FIND REASONS TO STAY, SAYS ENCHO

BACK when Encho Serrano was one of the fastest-rising players in the local basketball scene, he, too, received lucrative offers to play overseas.

Unlike the others, he chose to stay.

"Muntik ko na pong kunin 'yung noon sa Japan. Gustong gusto ko na pong pirmahan kaso po may mga nakausap ako na andun at galing dun, nagdalawang isip ako," said the 26-year old guard from Apalit, Pampanga.

At that time, Serrano had enough reasons to go abroad. He was caught in a stalemate in his talks for a contract renewal at Phoenix, where sources told SPIN.ph, he only earned P70,000 a month in his rookie season.

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The 19th overall pick of the 2022 draft did better than a lot of his batchmates in a rookie class headlined by Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and also included first-rounders Jeremiah Gray, Jeo Ambohot, Justin Arana, Gian Mamuyac, Tyrus Hill, Javi Gomez de Liano, Kurt Lojera, Shaun Ildefonso, Mark Dyke and Keith Zaldivar. 

Serrano averaged 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game for Phoenix and showed he belonged in the PBA. But he wasn't exactly getting an offer that would make him sign on the dotted line, prompting him to consider options overseas. 

"After nung Phoenix stint ko po, ang dami tumawag sa kin na teams abroad. Gusto ko na. Kasi ang laki ng offer nila," he said.

However, Serrano was having second thoughts.

"Kaso nag-worry naman po ako na iwan ang pamilya ko. Saka sabi nga nila, nakaka homesick daw abroad. Puro basketball lang mangyayari sa yo dun," he said. "Kaya naghanap ho ako ng chance na makakuha ng tamang pay pero andito lang ako sa Pilipinas, kasama pamilya ko at mga kaibigan."

The opportunity the former Adamson Baby Falcon and La Salle Green Archers guard had been waiting for came when his longtime patron, Delta Pineda, asked him to play for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL for the 2023 season.

This was when Serrano got more than double of what he was getting at Phoenix. Still, the pay wasn't as big as those offered by overseas teams, but it was enough to convince him to stay. He ended up becoming part of the two-peat champions Giant Lanterns, which was coached and backed by Pineda.

"Masaya po ako kasi kahit po hindi sing laki ng offers abroad, tama desisyon ko to just stay sa Pilipinas, makikita ko pang lumaki mga anak ko. Yun ang di nababayaran ng pera," he said.

"Kung dadalhin ko naman pamilya ko dun, wala rin ako maiipon kasi 1 is to 1 na ang kita. So talagang kung gusto mo makaipon abroad, magtitiis ka run mamuhay mag-isa," added the high-scoring guard.

Go or stay?

Asked if it is hard to hold local players from playing abroad, Serrano shook his head, saying he believes top talent would rather not head overseas if they find enough reasons to stay put.

"Siguro po pag kagaya ko na paalis na tapos may naging offer na tama at okay, hindi po aalis ang isang player. Kasi lahat naman tayong mga Pilipino may tinatawag na close family ties. Hirap tayo iwan pamilya natin. Masakit talaga mawalay, sa totoo lang," he said.

Now playing for Abra Congressman JB Bernos’ Solid North Weavers, Serrano is on the cusp of becoming the MPBL’s first ever three-peat champion player.

More importantly, he is happy and convinced he made the right decision.

2025-10-10T08:15:10Z