In his second year with Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Aaron Buensalida has proven himself to be a reliable presence for head coach Allen Ricardo and the Knights.
Before securing a regular spot in Ricardo’s rotation in Muralla, however, the 6-foot-5 big man had already established himself as a multiple-time champion in the UAAP before making the jump to the NCAA.
At the high school level, he won the boys’ basketball championship with National University Nazareth School before capturing the men’s 3×3 basketball crown with De La Salle University in college.
Now, with finals experience under his belt from NCAA Season 101, Buensalida has one goal in mind: return to a familiar destination that has been a constant throughout his basketball career.
“Mas pagtuunan pa namin yung mga ginagawa namin, attention to detail. Mas marami kaming kailangan na i-work on lalo na papalapit na ‘yung playoffs, then Final Four, at then championship,” he said, as Letran prepares for the final round of eliminations.
The 24-year-old forward played a crucial role in the Knights’ 83-72 victory over College of Saint Benilde on Tuesday, as Letran closed out the crossover round of the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
Buensalida finished with 13 points, four assists, and a block in 20 minutes of action, providing valuable support alongside Kevin Santos, who has been a key figure in the Knights’ frontcourt throughout his Letran tenure.
“Sobrang laki din ng tulong niya. Na-build ko rin yung kumpiyansa ko, hindi lang dahil kay Kevin, kundi dahil sa lahat ng teammates ko,” he shared.
With Santos set to miss Letran’s next game after being ejected with five minutes remaining in their win over the Blazers, Buensalida’s role, alongside Justine Hugo, is expected to become even more significant.
The Knights have also been without Titing Manalili, who has missed their last three games due to a knee injury.
Showing maturity, Buensalida views the situation as an opportunity not only for himself but also for the younger members of the squad to step up.
“Samin naman, ready naman kami sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. Di lang naman ako, marami naman kaming big man.
“Lalo na ngayon na kakabalik ni George (Diamante), perfect opportunity para sa kanya na mag-step up,” the Davao native said.
Ricardo has also seen Buensalida’s growth, particularly in adapting to his defense-first system.
The forward, for his part, spoke highly of his head coach’s approach and its impact on the team.
“Nakaka-build na siya ng confidence and rhythm. Siguro, kailangan lang niyang balikan yung pag nandoon na siya sa ilalim. Medyo mabagal yung pag-angat niya ng bola. But I guess babalikan naman sa practice yan, mabui-build naman yung reps,” Ricardo said.
Buensalida, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of defense in establishing the Knights’ identity, believing that their defensive efforts would make things easier on the offensive end.
“Iniisip ko kasi lagi ‘yung ginagawa namin sa depensa. Pero siyempre, di mo mawawala yung opensa, pero nagse-start kami lagi sa depensa para ‘yung opensa namin madali na lang,” he explained.
