Jonathan Espeleta can finally have a moment to call his own in the PBA D-League.
The Filipino-American forward made his presence felt in the Akari-Adamson Soaring Falcons’ 98-92 victory over the Go for Gold Scratchers on Tuesday in Pasig City, scoring 19 of his game-high 24 points in the first quarter alone.
Yes, in the first quarter alone.
“My teammates were just trying to find me because I was hot. So I just had to keep shooting. They just happened to fall in,” said the 21-year-old, who had just been averaging 11 markers and five assists prior to his 24-point explosion.
Even head coach Franz Pumaren was all praises for Espeleta. But he was the least surprised, saying that he had already seen something from the six-foot-one student-athlete the moment he took over Adamson’s coaching reins in 2016.
Photo by PBA Images
“During the first time I took over Adamson, I think he has a lot of potential — PBA potential.
“He just has to be in better shape,” said Pumaren, the former head coach of the now-defunct Air21 Express and GlobalPort Batang Pier.
Expectations are definitely high for Espeleta. But even before Tuesday, he was already seen the team’s starting forward come the 81st season of the UAAP.
But Espeleta doesn’t mind the pressure, saying that every Soaring Falcon is capable of stepping up to the plate at any given time.
“No. We know what we’re capable of doing. All of us just look to contribute every night,” he said.
“There’s no star player, we’re just playing as a team.”
