By MARK REY MONTEJO

MPBL guard and social media star Kyt Jimenez felt he was on cloud nine and expressed his gratitude to the fans who supported him after he was selected as the 76th overall pick in the 2023 PBA Draft on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Market! Market! in Taguig City.

Jimenez said he didn’t expect that the San Miguel Beermen would tap him in the ninth round, a moment that triggered celebrations from his loyal fans in attendance.

“Parang nasa langit na ako [ngayon], kasi pangarap ko ‘to bata palang ako,” Jimenez said.

“Di ko inexpect na kukunin ako ng San Miguel, pero kanina naiiyak nalang ako natawag yung pangalan ko kahit bandang huli, pero will ni Lord 'yun kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa kanya,” he added.

The former Perpetual cager is looking forward to meeting his idol Terrence Romeo and Beermen's veteran players to learn more about the pro basketball scene.

“Sobrang saya rin kasi sobrang tagal ko nang di naka-kasama si kuya Terrence [Romeo] pero ngayon magkakasama ulit kami sa ensayo and sobrang laking opportunity [nito para sa akin] kasi mas marami pa akong matututunan sa kanya and sa mga veteran players ng San Miguel,” Jimenez said.

The 5-foot-11 floor general revealed that he was prepared if the results would turn bad.

“For me naka-mindset naman ako na yung focus ko is makuha man o hindi at least nagawa ko ang role ko as a player,” said Jimenez.

“Kaya ako naglalaro kasi gusto ko makapagbigay inspirasyon sa kabataan, sa mga naghahangad [makalaro] sa mataas na liga.

“Di ko expect, yung pinakamataas na liga [gaya ng] PBA [pero] andyan parin yung mga tao [para sumuporta] mapick man o ako hindi pero grabe yung suporta na binibigay nila sa akin,” he continued.

Jimenez was known for his fancy handles and being a former member of Mavrick Batista’s “Mav’s Phenom Basketball.”

The GenSan player once made a historic quadruple-double in MPBL, recording 33 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists and 11 steals that made him the second Filipino player to tally the record since Cebuano Donbel Belano in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) in 1999.