In the first round of his final year with San Sebastian, Allyn Bulanadi has been posting monster numbers of 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks.
Those eye-popping numbers, however, were only good enough for third in the Most Valuable Player race. He is still 7.44 points below leader Calvin Oftana.
The 21-year-old swingman doesn’t mind, though. Bulanadi asserted that he isn’t aiming for individual success; instead, his focus is on giving San Sebastian a championship in his senior year.
“Sa akin, yung individual award, palaging pangalawa lang yan. Yung goal para sa amin is yung championship.”
To begin the second round, Bulanadi exploded for 32 points. He led San Sebastian to their fifth straight win, a dominant 83-67 victory over the Saint Benilde Blazers.
Still, his numbers are a result of team play, according to head coach Egay Macaraya.
“May green light siya.
“It is his last year and I’m focusing him na maganda ang paglabas mo. ‘[The] hundred-percent of you playing every game will bring the team kung saan kami madadala. This is your last chance.’ And nakikita naman natin na ginagampanan niya ang trabaho niya,” said Macaraya.
During the game, San Sebastian limited Saint Benilde to just 11 points in the third frame. And it resulted in Bulanadi scoring the same output as well.
In order to repay the trust given to him by Macaraya and San Sebastian, Bulanadi plans to fulfill his promise to them.
“Sa akin lang, nagpapasalamat ako kay coach Egay na nandyan sila palagi nakasuporta sa akin, di lang sa akin kundi sa aming lahat. Kailangan ko lang gampanan yung trust na binigay nila sa akin para sa team.”