Isaac Go

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Yap and the surname or paternal family name is Go.
Isaac Go
No. 11 – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
PositionCenter / power forward
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1996-06-07) June 7, 1996 (age 28)
Quezon City, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolXavier School (San Juan)
CollegeAteneo
PBA draft2019: Special round, 1st overall[a]
Selected by the Columbian Dyip
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2021–2024Terrafirma Dyip
2024–presentBarangay Ginebra San Miguel
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Philippines
Southeast Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2021 Hanoi Team

George Isaac Yap Go (born June 7, 1996) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).[1] He is a three-time UAAP champion with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Early life

Go wasn't interested in basketball at a young age. However, Gian, his brother, forced Isaac to play with him. In grade school, he had minimal playing time on his team. When he moved up to Xavier High School, he became good enough to represent the Philippines in international tournaments.[2] In 2013, he participated in that year's edition of Adidas Nations.[3] He was also picked for the NBTC All-Star High School Game in 2014, which featured the country's high school standouts.[4] He eventually went to Ateneo for college.

College career

In 2015, Go was part of Ateneo's rookie class that included Aaron Black, Jerie Pingoy, Chibueze Ikeh, and the Nieto brothers Mike and Matt.[5] He could have started playing the previous year, but a shoulder injury kept him out for the whole season.[6] When he joined the team, Coach Tab Balwin put him on a no-rice diet.[7] Since then, he has lost 20 pounds.[7]

In Season 79, Go scored 15 points and 4 rebounds to lead Ateneo in a win against the UST Growling Tigers, which was his college career-high.[8][9] For that performance, he was awarded Player of the Week.[9] In the Final Four against the FEU Tamaraws, he scored 12 points and 14 to send Ateneo to the Finals.[10] They lost to the DLSU Green Archers in the Finals that season.

In Season 80, Go scored 11 points in the first half against to give UST their 5th straight loss.[11] The Eagles would eventually win all but one game (which was against the Archers) in the elimination round.[12] In their Final Four rematch against FEU, Ateneo lost Game 1.[13] But in Game 2, he tied the game with a three-pointer, and the match went on to overtime.[14] In overtime, he grabbed an offensive rebound and made a bank shot while kneeling on the floor, sealing the game 88–84.[14] The win sent Ateneo back to the Finals.[14] In Game 1, he completed a three-point play that sealed the win for Ateneo.[15] The Eagles lost Game 2,[16] but won Game 3 on a clutch triple from Go, giving Ateneo their first championship since 2012.[17]

As defending champions and Ateneo representing the Philippines in that year's Jones Cup, expectations were high for Ateneo in Season 81. Go played a part in mentoring rookie center Angelo Kouame that season.[18] He scored the most points for Ateneo in a win over the Adamson Soaring Falcons after Adamson beat them in their first match.[19] They beat the UP Fighting Maroons in the Finals.[20]

The following season, Go took a backseat as Ateneo brought in younger rookie big men.[21] Ateneo won its third straight championship that year.[21] At the end of the season, he applied for the PBA Draft.[22]

Professional career

Terrafirma Dyip (2021–2024)

In the 2019 PBA Draft, Go was selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Columbian Dyip.[23] He was signed ahead of the Governors' Cup restart.[24] He was held scoreless in his PBA debut.[25] Terrafirma failed to qualify for the playoffs that conference.[26]

The following season, during a game against the NorthPort Batang Pier in the Philippine Cup, Go injured his right knee and had to be taken out of the game. He was later diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and meniscus tear. He was out for the rest of the season.[27]

Before the start of the 2024 Philippine Cup, Go signed a season-long deal to stay with Terrafirma.[28] Terrafirma started the conference with a win over the Converge FiberXers in which he contributed 13 points and five rebounds.[29] During All-Star Weekend, he got to participate in the Obstacle Challenge and the 3-Point Shootout for the big men.[30] In an upset win over Barangay Ginebra, he contributed nine points, seven rebounds, and three assists.[31] He then scored a career-high 21 points on seven made three-pointers in a loss to the San Miguel Beermen.[32] Terrafirma made it back to the postseason that conference with a win over NorthPort.[33] In Game 1 of the quarterfinals against the San Miguel Beermen, he scored a new a career-high 22 points on six triples as Terrafirma forced a winner-take-all game.[34] The Beermen bounced back the following game and won 110–91 to end Terrafirma's season.[35]

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (2024–present)

On July 13, 2024, Go, along with Stephen Holt and a 2023 first-round pick, was traded to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, and a 2023 first-round pick.[36]

During the 2024 Governors' Cup, Go injured his knee in a win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.[37] He would not return for the rest of that conference.[38]

PBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

As of the end of 2023–24 season[39]

Season-by-season averages

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021 Terrafirma 6 12.5 .462 .200 .333 2.8 .2 — .2 4.7
2022–23 Terrafirma 2 7.2 .400 .333 .000 2.5 .0 .5 — 4.5
2023–24 Terrafirma 25 24.7 .413 .366 .565 5.2 1.2 .4 .7 8.8
Career 33 11.2 .417 .345 .519 4.6 .9 .3 .5 7.8

National team career

Go first played for the Philippine national team in the 2011 FIBA Asia U-16 Tournament.[40] In 2018, He was named to the "23 for 23" a pool of Gilas Cadets for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.[41] He also played in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, even serving as team captain during the third window.[1][42] He was also on the roster for the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[43]

In non-FIBA tournaments, he has represented the Philippines in the Dubai International Basketball Championship (DIBC) with Mighty Sports, winning it in 2020.[44] As a member of Ateneo, he participated in the 2018 Jones Cup. His best game in that tournament came against Indonesia, with 21 points of 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.[45] Ateneo finished 4th in that tournament.[46]

In 2022, he was on the roster for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.[47] He had 13 points and 12 rebounds in a win against Cambodia.[48] Gilas went on to lose to Indonesia in the finals, settling for a silver medal.[49]

Off the court

Go is also a writer for the Philippine edition of NBA.com.[50] He also appears on Philippine sports talk shows such as NBA Hype,[2] and The Game.[51] In 2022, he became an analyst for UAAP Season 84.[52]

He graduated with the degree of BS Management of Applied Chemistry (BS MAC) from Ateneo de Manila University in 2020. He also holds a master's degree in Sustainability Management.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ The 2019 draft was composed of two drafts: the Gilas special draft, which consists of 5 players reserved for the Philippine national team, and the regular draft. Go was selected as the first pick in the Gilas special draft. Roosevelt Adams was selected as the first pick of the regular draft.

References

  1. ^ a b "George Isaac Go". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Bautista, Ralph Anthony; Nepomuceno, Ira (December 30, 2021). "Isaac Go: Doubted turned decorated". The GUIDON. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Raya, Robi. "18 and Under Nat'l Basketball Team to Learn From the Best in adidas Nations Global". Archived from the original on July 27, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  4. ^ Verora, Levi (March 6, 2014). "NBTC unveils lineups for All Star High School Game on March 9". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Ganglani, Naveen (August 30, 2015). "A 'more complete' player, Von Pessumal doesn't want shooter label". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Terrado, Reuben (June 23, 2014). "Fragile Ateneo frontline dealt blow as rookie Isaac Go out for season with shoulder injury". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Ganglani, Naveen (December 3, 2016). "From fat kid to overtime hero: Isaac Go's rise mirrors Ateneo's resolve". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Ganglani, Naveen (November 12, 2016). "Host school UST ends season with another loss to Ateneo". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Ateneo big man Isaac Go given UAAP Player of the Week citation by scribes". Spin.ph. November 14, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  10. ^ Ganglani, Naveen (November 30, 2016). "Ateneo avoids collapse against FEU to set up finals vs La Salle". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Go, Beatrice (September 9, 2017). "Blue Eagles survive UST's threat to remain undefeated". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  12. ^ Go, Beatrice (November 12, 2017). "De La Salle derails Ateneo from sweeping elimination round". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Go, Beatrice (November 22, 2017). "Ateneo secures finals berth despite FEU's OT threat". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  14. ^ a b c Isaga, JR (November 22, 2017). "Isaac Go channels inner Desiderio in Ateneo's OT thriller against FEU". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "Ateneo Blue Eagles secure game 1 of UAAP S80 finals". RAPPLER. November 25, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Go, Beatrice (November 29, 2017). "DLSU Green Archers take game 2, set do-or-die vs Ateneo Blue Eagles". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Go, Beatrice (December 3, 2017). "Ateneo Blue Eagles are UAAP Season 80 champions". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  18. ^ Go, Beatrice (October 20, 2018). "Isaac Go: Kouame pushes Ateneo to be better". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  19. ^ Isaga, JR (November 4, 2018). "Ateneo gets back at Adamson in defensive shutout". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  20. ^ Isaga, JR (December 6, 2018). "In team-first system, Thirdy still on top". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  21. ^ a b AGCAOILI, LANCE (November 22, 2019). "Biggest loser is big winner: Isaac Go has done everything Ateneo needed him to do". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  22. ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (November 28, 2019). "Seen as a Top 3 pick, Isaac Go declares for PBA Rookie Draft". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  23. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (December 8, 2019). "Columbian nabs Isaac Go as No. 1 pick in PBA Draft 2019". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  24. ^ Isaga, JR (February 10, 2022). "Terrafirma signs Isaac Go ahead of Governors' Cup restart". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  25. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (February 11, 2022). "Terrafirma spoils Blackwater's skid snapping with huge comeback". www.dugout.ph. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  26. ^ Terrado, Reuben. "TNT secures PBA playoff berth after breezy win over Terrafirma". Spin.ph. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  27. ^ Li, Matthew (June 14, 2022). "Isaac Go diagnosed with ACL tear". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  28. ^ Ramos, Gerry (February 7, 2024). "Isaac Go, Andreas Cahilig signed to new Terrafirma contracts". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Co, Adrian Stewart (March 2, 2024). "Terrafirma Dyip outlasts Converge in PBA PH Cup". Panay News. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  30. ^ Ramos, Gerry (March 23, 2024). "Raymond Almazan is maiden winner of three-point shootout among bigs". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  31. ^ "Dyip stun Gin Kings, close in on quarters". www.pba.ph. April 7, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Terrado, Reuben (April 10, 2024). "Mo Tautuaa heroics rescue SMB from a giant Terrafirma scare". Spin.ph. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  33. ^ Escarlote, Mark (May 8, 2024). "Dyip catch last quarters ride". Daily Tribune. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  34. ^ Ballesteros, Jan (May 11, 2024). "PBA: Terrafirma big man Isaac Go embraces challenge of facing San Miguel's 7-time MVP June Mar Fajardo". onesports.ph. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  35. ^ Ballesteros, Jan (May 15, 2024). "PBA: June Mar Fajardo posts 20-20 as San Miguel ends Terrafirma's dream run, enters semis". onesports.ph. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  36. ^ "Ginebra acquires Holt, Go from Terrafirma in exchange for Standhardinger, Pringle". pba.ph. July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  37. ^ Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (September 14, 2024). "Cone laments Isaac Go going down with injury in Ginebra win". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  38. ^ Escarlote, Mark (October 15, 2024). "Go no go for Governors' Cup". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  39. ^ "George Isaac Go Player Profile, Terrafirma Dyip - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com.
  40. ^ Payo, Jasmine W. (October 5, 2011). "Energen PH youth squad unveils Fiba Asia roster". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  41. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (January 5, 2018). "Kobe Paras, Thirdy Ravena banner '23 for 23' Gilas pool roster". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  42. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (June 14, 2021). "Isaac Go named Gilas Pilipinas' captain for FIBA qualifiers". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  43. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (June 24, 2021). "Kai Sotto, Angelo Kouame headline Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA OQT roster". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  44. ^ Isaga, JR (February 2, 2020). "Undefeated Mighty blows out Al Riyadi, wins 31st Dubai championship". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  45. ^ Isaga, JR (July 19, 2018). "Isaac Go explodes for 6 triples in Ateneo win vs Indonesia". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  46. ^ Isaga, JR (July 22, 2018). "Iran kicks Ateneo-PH out of Jones Cup podium". RAPPLER. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  47. ^ "Kiefer, Thirdy Ravena lead 12-man Gilas Pilipinas cast to Vietnam SEA Games". GMA News Online. May 5, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  48. ^ Masoy, Niel Victor C. (May 17, 2022). "Gilas Pilipinas deals Cambodia a 68-point drubbing to go 2-0". The Manila Times. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  49. ^ Terrado, Reuben (May 22, 2022). "Indonesia ends long Philippine reign as king of SEA Games basketball". Spin.ph. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  50. ^ "Articles | Author: Isaac Go | NBA.com Philippines". NBA.com Philippines. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  51. ^ The Game | Is Ja Morant the 2022 NBA MVP?, retrieved March 15, 2022
  52. ^ Li, Matthew (March 23, 2022). "UAAP products to serve as analysts for Cignal broadcast". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 18, 2022.