Sonny Estil shines in debut despite Ginebra’s Manila Clasico loss

Rookie forward Sonny Estil had an impressive first outing in the PBA, showing poise and energy for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel during the highly anticipated Manila Clasico against Magnolia last Sunday.

The 11th overall pick finished with nine points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes and 41 seconds, providing a spark in Ginebra’s 80–73 loss to open the 50th Season Philippine Cup.

Estil admitted that he felt the pressure of playing his first PBA game but fought to overcome it, saying the experience reminded him of his childhood days playing basketball. Having been accustomed to performing before large crowds, he still recognized that competing in the PBA felt different, given the level of talent and intensity.

While satisfied with his individual performance, Estil expressed that it meant little without a team victory. He felt that even though he played well, it was “useless” since the team still lost, emphasizing that he would rather see Ginebra perform well collectively than stand out individually.

The 6-foot-3 forward also shared that coach Tim Cone was displeased with how the team performed, noting that their play looked disjointed and uncoordinated, as if only a few players were fully engaged. Estil understood Cone’s frustration and promised that the team would regroup and play better in their next outing.

He was also particularly disappointed about committing a crucial foul on Rome Dela Rosa, which resulted in a three-point play that helped Magnolia pull away late in the game. He admitted it came from a defensive miscommunication and vowed to make up for it moving forward.

Despite the loss, Estil’s debut offered a glimpse of his potential as a valuable contributor for Ginebra this season—a mix of confidence, accountability, and hunger to improve.