MANILA, Philippines – The fact that Stephen Holt won Rookie of the Year demonstrated his capacity to overcome adversity.

The Fil-Am guard, who was chosen first overall by Terrafirma in the Season 48 draft, said he just attempted to live up to the hype.

Being the first overall choice in the draft comes with pressure, but Stephen Holt said he was proud of his ability to handle it. Holt talked about his first season experience during the Leo Awards event on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where he was awarded the first of the Year trophy.

The 32-year-old accepted that being the first overall draft pick came with a lot of attention and expectations. He called this “all the noise” around his position, suggesting that fans and the media were paying close attention to his play all season long.

Holt stressed how he dealt with these expectations, saying that he made an effort to be true to himself in spite of the pressure. He explained his formula for success, which consisted of exerting all of your energy on every play, upholding a strict work ethic, and exhibiting leadership traits.

His statement that he competes “every single play” implies that he would always play every game with the same rigor and passion. This strategy probably helped him achieve the remarkable first-year success that won him the coveted prize.

Holt’s focus on “working” suggests a commitment to ongoing development and an understanding of the labor necessary to be successful in a professional setting. His success as a rookie seems to have been mostly attributed to his hard ethic and innate skills.

Considering Holt’s age, the statement of demonstrating leadership is very significant. Being older than the average rookie at 32, he was probably able to provide a degree of maturity and experience to his role that is not often seen in first-year players.

Holt’s remarks show that he is approaching his first season with maturity and self-awareness, weighing the demands of being a highly anticipated draft selection against his own development and the needs of the club. The fact that he won first of the Year validates both this strategy and his overall performance in his first year.

Holt, who is currently with Barangay Ginebra, finished the competition with 34.1 statistical points and averaged 17.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Holt was the clear victor of the title.

Even though his stats were strong enough to put him in the running for MVP, he ultimately had to settle with becoming a member of the league’s Second Mythical Team.

When Terrafirma qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season, it was a remarkable performance that Holt attributed to the squad.

Regretfully, Dyip’s quarterfinal matchup with top-seeded San Miguel ended in a loss.

Stephen Holt gave a heartfelt reflection on his brief time with Terrafirma, saying that his memories of the team will last a lifetime. Even though Holt was only a member of the KIA team for one season, he made enough of an effect to be recognized individually.

Holt gave an honest assessment of his career development as he looked ahead to his sophomore season. He underlined the need of always proving oneself, regardless of prior successes or draft status. This demeanor conveys a strong work ethic and a determination to take his accomplishments for granted.

Holt’s admission that “Nothing is ever given” demonstrates how well he comprehends the cutthroat nature of professional basketball. He understands that even with his remarkable background, success in the future is not certain. Rather, he emphasizes the significance of continuously proving his worth on the court

As an illustration of his methodology, the guard cited his performance in the all-Filipino conference. He credited his ability to show himself “every single night” of the conference for his individual honors. It’s possible that his performance consistency was a major factor in his selection as Rookie of the Year.