Olu Ashaolu is not dwelling on short-lived PBA stints in the past as he looks forward to helping the Alaska Aces do well in the Governors’ Cup.
The Nigerian-Canadian is among the seven returnees for the season-ending conference after a two-year stint with the NLEX Road Warriors in 2018 and 2019.
Though he only played a total of 12 games for the Road Warriors for various reasons, Ashaolu stressed the importance of focusing on what’s ahead.
“I don’t really put too much emphasis on what’s taking place in the past. I mean, I’m very, very forward looking,” Ashaolu said in an interview with the program The Game.
The Alaska stint is actually the first overseas stint for the 33-year-old Ashaolu since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashaolu spent most of his time in Toronto focusing on his cheesecake business. He did play for the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League earlier this year until Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso called.
“I wasn’t quite sure what was gonna take place, obviously with the pandemic,” Ashaolu said. “When I got word that there was a possibility for a conference with imports it definitely pushed me.
“And then when I got a call from Coach Jeff we started making some discussion. So I’m very excited. So fortunate to be here and I’m looking forward to this conference,” he added.
He averaged 24.9 points and 12.7 rebounds with the Road Warriors, numbers the Aces hope Ashaolu can at least equal in the Governors’ Cup which starts Dec. 8 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.