WHETHER it’s Barangay Ginebra or any other team that picks him in the PBA Rookie Draft, it doesn’t matter to rookie hopeful Caelan Tiongson

As long as his services are needed, he’s good with it.

“I don’t know who’s going to pick me but whoever does, I just want someone who wants me and will take care of me, excited at whoever picks me,” said the Fil-Am forward.

“I’ll be grateful to play for any coach or any team that wants me.”

Tiongson is considered one of the marquee players for the July 14 proceedings at the Glorietta

He also suited up for Alab Pilipinas in the ABL during the 2018-19 season, and was a product of Biola University, a US NCAA Division 2 school.

In between, Tiongson briefly joined the Ginebra 3×3 team under coach Kirk Collier, where he had for teammates now PBA players Ralph Cu, Don Gumaru, and Kim Aurin.

It’s understandable then that people expect him to be picked by the Kings for the Season 49 Draft.

“To be honest I know there’s a lot of connection with Ginebra because for so long I have been linked to them,” he admitted. “I had a little stint with Ginebra in the 3×3 a couple of years back. I was in the gym with them a lot.”

With both the 3×3 and 5-on-5 teams of the Kings sharing the same practice facility, it’s understood Tiongson gets to see coach Tim Cone and the rest of the Ginebra boys in training almost every day.

He referred to Cone as a legend and one of the best PBA coaches ever.

“I’ve got to talk to him a few times, I’ve got to a few practices with Ginebra back in the days,” he said.

“So, yeah that would really be cool,” added Tiongson of the prospect if ever the Kings would indeed, draft him.

‘Any team would be fine’

Still, any team would be fine to him.

“Whoever wants me and will take care of me, that’s where I want to go,” said Tiongson, a close friend of San Miguel Beer guard Simon Enciso.

Prior to his PBA dream, Tiongson will play first with the Strong Group Athletics in the coming Jones Cup in Taiwan.