It looks like the San Sebastian Golden Stags have found a new go-to guy following the departure of versatile forward Michael Calisaan.
In the Valencia City Bukidnon-San Sebastian Golden Harvest’s successful debut in the 2019 PBA D-League, where they took a 110-104 overtime win over Marinerong Pilipino Skippers, Allyn Bulanadi shone the brightest with 32 points.
Bulanadi scored 12 points in the third quarter alone, as Valencia-SSC-R went on a 28-point rampage. He scored four more in extra time to finish things off. He also collected nine rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in 34 minutes.
Bulanadi admitted it isn’t easy being the go-to guy in most situations.
“Siyempre pressure din ng konti kasi yung buong tiwala ni coach at ng team, nasa akin eh,” said the 6-foot-2 cager from Davao, moments after the match at Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
“Pero ginagawa ko namang motivation yun.”
Thankfully, though, he has the D-League to help him grow further.
“Siyempre, bata kami.
“Kita mo naman, yung mga lineup, ang daming matatanda. Underdog nga kami sabi ni coach Egay [Macaraya]. So motivation sa amin yun at sa akin para mag-improve araw-araw,” said the 23-year-old Bulanadi.
But even if he has proven that he can be reliable, Bulanadi said that he – and fellow seniors RK Ilagan and Alvin Capobres – cannot do things alone. And so he hopes that the others will step up as the tourney progresses.
Bulanadi pointed out the need for more contributions when the Golden Harvest struggled versus Marinero. They had lost hold of a 14-point lead, as the Skippers fought back fiercely and tied things up at 100-all just as the buzzer sounded.
“Kailangan lang mag-step up ng mga bagong kakampi namin kasi hindi namin kaya ‘pag kami lang tatlo. Nag-struggle din kami kasi yung kalaban puro beterano. Kailangan talaga mag-step up sila.”
