Gab Dagangon has been much maligned a season ago. After being named to last season’s All-Star squad, the Davao del Sur-native’s norms dropped as the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas missed the Final Four in Altas great Scottie Thompson’s final season.
With Thompson already in the pros, the 23 year old raised his game to new heights. Dagangon reached new levels with averages of 12.9 points and 8 rebounds per game in the elimination round.
The Perpetual gunslinger though saved his best performance in the Final Four against a team that broke their hearts two seasons ago. Dagangon notched a career-high 27 points on 60 percent shooting to take Game One from the San Beda College Red Lions, Friday afternoon.
“Masaya ako sa resulta ngayon,” the soft-spoken shooting guard said.
Dagangon’s last two points of the game was the most lethal. With the game tied at 83-all with 19.7 seconds remaining, he was able to foil a steal by Javee Mocon leading to a wide-open layup that gave Perpetual the lead for good.
“Siyempre kailangan i-shoot talaga,” he reflected about that moment that exorcised the ghosts of past Altas teams.
“Baka mabaliktad pa, matalo pa kami kaya di ko na sinayang.”
Compared to two years ago, the Las Pinas-based squad finally have a big man to rely on – actually, they have two. Bright Akhuetie and Prince Eze have anchored the Altas defense – the most imposing defensive team this season. Other than the newfound defensive mentality, the will to win has also changed for them.
“Yung kagustuhan manalo at depensa,” the Perpetual senior said about the main difference between this squad and Altas of years past. “Lahat kami ngayon tulong talaga sa depensa.”
“Sumusunod kami sa sistema at nagtitiwala sa isa’t isa.”
However, he remains wary of what the league-leaders have in-store for the win-or-go-home Game Two on Tuesday. He vowed that they will be ready as well.
“May Game Two pa,” Dagangon, who is one of three remaining Altas players who experienced a playoff loss against San Beda, closed.
“Sana kung ano pinakita namin ngayon makikita pa sa Game Two kasi mag-aadjust sila.”
