After playing as shooting guard for five years with La Salle St. Benilde’s Blazers, Jonathan Grey is aiming for the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association). But he was the only PBA draft applicant who was declared ineligible. Reason: The PBA requires rookie hopefuls to have played in the D-League, seven games in one conference for locals and seven games in two tournaments for Filipino foreigners.
One of hard court’s “movie-starish” players, Jonathan turned 24 last Jan. 13 (an Aquarian). He stands 6’3”; weighs 185 lbs.; and wears large-sized shirt, large/XL-sized briefs and size-12 shoes (for basketball).
Jonathan is graduating in March with a degree in Export Management. “My family used to have an export business but it has closed already. I learned a lot from my parents (his father is Mar Grey and his mother is Lina Maglalang, a Kapampangan). I plan to put up my own business. I am the youngest among four siblings.”
With his looks, Jonathan could easily qualify for show business but he said that being shy and “not sociable,” he might not fit the showbiz mold. He is focused on breaking into PBA, determined to follow in the footsteps of his idol, James Yap.
“He’s also a shooting guard,” noted Jonathan who has been playing basketball since he was three years old in Biñan, his hometown in Laguna. “I like his style. Relaxed lang maglaro.”
Is it hard to maintain the body of a basketball player?
“Not really. It’s a matter of discipline. I practice every day.”
What kind of diet do you follow?
“I eat anything basta huwag lang sobra.”
What’s usually for breakfast?
“Bacon and scrambled egg na medyo basa, with toasted bread. And milk. I drink milk all the time. I love milk. Sobra! I was trained to love milk by my parents.”
For lunch?
“Rice with laing, the hotter the better.”
And for dinner?
“Pork sisig with rice. Pork sisig is my favorite. I like tuyo, tilapia and tawilis, but what I don’t like is fish na matinik, ‘yung prepared na medyo malansa pa.”
Snacks between meals?
“Midnight snack usually. Cornflakes with Oreo. O, may milk na naman ‘yon!”
What vitamins do you take?
“Fern-C.”
How much water do you take per day?
“A lot! More than 10 glasses.”
What workout do you do?
“We have practice every day. In the afternoon, I do shooting drills.”
What part of your body needs improvement?
“My tummy. I have a little bilbil (love handles).”
What part of your body is most vulnerable?
“My lips. Palaging tinatamaan during the games.”
What part is your favorite?
“My face. The whole face.”
What part of a girl’s body do you look at first?
“Her armpits. If her armpits are clean, then it means every part of her body is also clean.”
And what turns you off?
“Girls with thick make-up.”
How much sleep do you get per night?
“Eight hours.”
Favorite sleepwear?
“Basketball shorts and T-shirt.”
How many pillows do you sleep with?
“Four pillows. I sleep alone in my room.”
Do you snore?
“Only when I’m tired.”
Do you talk in your sleep?
“No, I don’t.”
Do you sleepwalk?
“No, I don’t.”
Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?
“Check my Instagram.”
First thing that you do as soon as you wake up?
“Brush my teeth.”
Do you smoke?
“No.”
Do you drink?
“Yes, but only social drinking.”
How do you cope with stress?
“I go malling with my friends.”
Favorite hideaway?
“Hot springs in Pansol (Laguna).”
How’s your love life?
“I have a girlfriend pero off-and-on kami. We’re off now.”
Lights on or lights off?
“Lights off.”
When did you lose your innocence?
“Do I have to answer that? Baka magalit ang mommy ko. I am a Mama’s Boy kasi.”
I think your mom won’t mind.
“Okay, I was 19.”
To a younger woman, older woman or a girl your age?
“Girl my age.”
Have you ever received any indecent proposal?
“Many times.”
How do you deal with them?
“I just ignore them.”
Three girls that you find beautiful?
“Kathryn Bernardo, Liza Soberano and Yassi Pressman. They are my crushes.”
Using only body language, how would you make a girl know that you admire her?
“Since I’m not a good talker, I’ll just look at her.”
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