Just a little over a month ago, Allyn Bulanadi suffered a gruesome right shoulder injury in the PBA D-League.
The injury cost him to miss the Valencia City-San Sebastian Golden Harvests’ semis series against Cignal-Ateneo. Moreover, he was expected to miss the start of the Golden Stags’ campaign in the NCAA.
But seeing the Stags having fun on opening day, the 22-year-old swingman threw a look at head coach Egay Macaraya.
“Nung medyo malaki na yung lamang, nakaupo lang ako sa bench tapos tumingin ako kay Coach Egay. Alam mo yung ngiting pusa?
“Tapos sabi niya sa akin, ‘Bakit ang sama ng tingin mo sa kin? Pumasok ka na nga!’ Kaya ayun, nakalaro ako. Sabi niya shooting, shooting lang ako,” recalled Bulanadi with just about four minutes left in their 31-point rout of the JRU Heavy Bombers, Tuesday.
“I was not hoping na hindi siya lalaro, pero he was forcing me para maramdaman niya ang NCAA,” quipped Macaraya.
In just two minutes of play, the 6-foot-3 guard tallied seven points on 3-of-3 shooting. And he wanted to do more afterward.
As he went for a rebound, he got caught against JRU’s Agem Miranda. And Macaraya threw a gasp once he saw it.
“Two minutes nga lang eh. Nung sumubok kasi ako mag-rebound, bumangga ako kay Miranda. Nakita ko yung takot sa mukha ni coach kaya agad-agad nilabas niya ako,” said
“Bitin nga eh.”
After getting his feet wet, Bulanadi was just glad to be with his brothers once again. And he can’t wait to finally get a full game in next week when they take on the Mapua Cardinals on Tuesday.
“Okay na naman. Ready na naman ito. Babalik na ako sa game namin sa Mapua.”
