September 2, 2025 | 12:00am
Geo Chiu is touted because the tallest applicant for the Sept. 7 PBA draft and if just for his dimension, might be the primary general decide. However is he a game-changer or function participant? Can he make a distinction as the person within the center? Or will he simply come off the bench and log sparse minutes?
The very first thing that needs to be confirmed is his ceiling. Basketball web sites word that he’s anyplace between 6-8 and 6-10. Is he as tall as June Mar Fajardo? The approaching Draft Mix ought to settle the rating as soon as and for all. Each applicant might be measured with precision so Chiu’s top might be decided. The closest any applicant is to Chiu’s listed top is 6-9 Ladis Lepalan of St. Benilde however he, too, might be measured on the Draft Mix. There are a number of others within the 6-7 class, particularly, Arnold Ando of UST, Mario Barasi of Adamson, Ivan Santos of TIP and Jerick Villanueva of UE. Whether or not their heights are exaggerated or not might be discovered. Elevated sneakers might add an inch or two however the gamers might be sized on their naked ft.
Chiu, 24, was by no means a big-time scorer in 4 years with the Ateneo seniors. In UAAP Season 86, he averaged 1.4 factors, 2.7 rebounds and seven.7 minutes over 14 video games. However Chiu’s a examined winner with UAAP seniors and juniors championships plus a Jones Cup title beneath his belt. He declined his ultimate 12 months of varsity eligibility to show professional with the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Match.
From TAT, Chiu moved to the Japanese B-League D2, taking part in for Ehime Orange Vikings. The stint was uneventful as he averaged 3.0 factors, 3.2 rebounds and 16.2 minutes in 53 video games. Chiu tallied double determine factors thrice, scoring 11 in a 29-point loss to Fukuoka, 11 in a 34-point defeat to Chiba and 13 in a 32-point setback to Fukuoka in a rematch. He grabbed 12 rebounds in a 43-point loss to Fukui and was scoreless in 18 outings. From the free throw line, Chiu shot 41 of 76 for a .539 clip however from the ground, he was a decent .542. In rebounds, he had 65 offensive and 106 defensive.
From the B-League, Chiu jumped to Abra within the MPBL the place he’s averaging 5.6 factors and 5.4 rebounds. He’ll end his MPBL obligations earlier than suiting up within the PBA, assuming he’s drafted and supplied a contract.
The stats point out Chiu isn’t an impression participant. However his Gilas expertise ought to go a good distance regardless of his low numbers. He averaged 1.9 factors and three.3 rebounds in 9 Gilas contests from the 2021 Olympic Qualifying Match in Serbia to the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers to the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup and to the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asia qualifiers. As a youth participant, he noticed motion on the FIBA U17 World Cup in 2018 and FIBA U19 World Cup in 2019. Chiu has performed with excellent teammates and obtained teaching from top-caliber mentors so these are credit on his resume.
Terrafirma will decide first within the draft and will use a participant of Chiu’s dimension. The Dyip roster lists 6-8 Kemark Carino, additionally a B-League graduate and it stays to be seen if Chiu can ship stronger minutes. Coach Ronald Tubid could go for a blue-chip guard like Jason Brickman or Juan Gomez de Liano relatively than threat his first general decide for a low-scoring massive man. Chiu can rating from mid-range, has a soft-touch floater and can use his dimension to publish up for energy strikes. However is he fast or agile sufficient to spin round defenders? The Draft Mix could reveal the solutions.
