FIT-AGAIN BARKLEY EBONA EYES PBA RETURN AFTER VALIENTES RUN
A now healthy Barkley Ebona isn't hiding his desire in making a PBA comeback.
The power forward out of Far Eastern University has just undergone bone spurs removal on his foot and is back in full strength again, good enough to clinch a roster spot with the Zamboanga Valientes in the recent 35th Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Ebona said the bone spurs were bothering him even during his time with TNT, so much that when he was released by the Tropang 5G prior to the start of Season 50, he decided to have it removed right there and then.
"Nung nasa TNT pa ako, meron na ito. Nahirapan na akong tumakbo, tumalon. Sobrang sakit na hindi ko na kayang tiisin, nag-decide na ako na ipatanggal, ipalinis," Ebona shared to Spin.ph
After almost two years of stay with TNT, Ebona wasn’t renewed by the franchise and became an unrestricted free agent.
The free time allowed him to full recover from the removal of bone spurs on his heel.
"Six months din akong nawala, rehab lang, focus lang (sa rehab), palakas lang ng calf ko para makabalik agad," he said.
Despite parting ways, Ebona doesn’t hold any grudges against the team where he won his two championships in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
He’s actually grateful for TNT management on gambling on him and giving him the opportunity to play for the telecommunication franchise.
"Pasalamat pa rin ako, grateful pa rin ako sa TNT, sa opportunity na ibinigay nila sa akin. Kahit paano marami akong natutunan doon, mga experience lalo na sa mga beterano doon kina kuya Jayson (Castro), kuya Kelly (Williams), kina (Roger) Pogoy, kay Poy (Erram). Marami akong natutunan sa kanila," he said.
And of course, a lot of memories were made especially with his fellow Visayan players.
Who could ever forget the funny vlogs of TNT’s so-called ‘Bisaya Bloc’ or ‘Bisdak’ group composed of Ebona, Pogoy, Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, Erram, Glenn Khobuntin, Brian Heruela, and at times, even team manager Jojo Lastimosa.
"Masaya kami dun. After practice, ganun mga ugali ng mga Bisaya e, harutran kapag sama-sama, biruan lang pero nothing serious naman. Pampagaan lang sa stress dahil siyempre kapag naglalaro kayo sa mga importanteg games, minsan may pressure yan, e," said Ebona, a no. 4 overall pick by Alaska in the 2019 draft.
"So doon lang, pampawala lang ng pressure, ng stress."
The 6-foot-6 Ebona admitted missing his former teammates, but manages to still keep in touch with them.
"Oo naman, nami-miss ko silang lahat," he said, adding he had dinner with some of them prior to the Philippine finals between TNT and San Miguel.
"Magkakasama kami nila Pogoy, ni Calvin, si Almond (Vosotros), tsaka si Ping Exciminiano, nag dinner lang kami," said Ebona. "Kuwentuhan ulit, inalala lang namin yung masasaya naming araw sa TNT. Katuwaan lang."
Barkley's ready
As the Tropang 5G waged war with the Beermen in the All-Filipino Cup title series, Ebona and the Valientes were also taking care of business in Dubai, where Zamboanga failed to advance in the playoffs, but beat defending champion Sports Club of Beirut.
He said the experience with Zamboanga was a great confidence booster for him coming off a foot procedure.
"Kumuha muna ng kumpiyansa ulit, ma-ibalik lang ulit ang kumpiyansa ko," he said of the stint with the Valientes where he got to be reunited with former Alaska teammate Vic Manuel.
The goal for him is very clear.
"Yun naman talaga yung goal especially ngayon healthy na ako, 100 percent na akong healthy. Yung goal ko talaga makabalik ako sa PBA," Ebona stressed while keeping his doors open on a TNT comeback if he's given the opportunity to try-out.
"Puwede naman kung if ever na in-invite nila ako ulit na mag-ensayo sa kanila, why not," said Ebona.
"Siyempre alam ko na ang sistema ni coach Chot, and then kabisdao ko na ugali ng mga players, coaches, staff. Kung papalarin, sakaling invite nila ako ulit, why not, pupunta ako."
Apart from Alaska and TNT, Ebona also saw action for Blackwater and Converge.
2026-02-14T14:15:05Z