After playing his final game for San Sebastian, Allyn Bulanadi did not shed a tear. The perennial MVP candidate instead waved his hands to the crowd with his head held high.
He was content.
“Siyempre, it was a good run para sa akin.
“Okay lang naman din. At least na-prove namin ang kakayahan namin hanggang dito,” said Bulanadi, who made the Final Four twice in his five-year career.
Knowing that he would go for broke in the game, the Letran Knights shackled the 6-foot-2 swingman. Constant double teams hounded Bulanadi all game long, while Balanza and the rest of Letran’s swingmen did not let him see a glimmer of daylight.
Bulanadi finished with 15 points but needed 17 shots to do so — from his regular season averages of 20.3 points.
He was grateful, though, that RK Ilagan was there to step up for him. Ilagan, the team’s captain, ended up with a career-high 36 points to give San Sebastian a fighting chance versus Letran.
“Sobrang hirap. Konti lang ata score ko. Nuti na lang andiyan si RK pero kinapos talaga.
“Ako, ilan nagro-rotate sakin, kaliwa’t kanan andun ‘yung tao eh. Hirap na hirap sa depensa,” admitted the Davao native.
It was not enough to topple the Knights, however, as the Golden Stags lost, 80-85.
With this, Bulanadi moves on to the next stage of his life. And up next for him will be joining the Basilan Steel in the MPBL.
He hopes that being in the national league will help him be ready for the pros come 2021.
“Para sa ‘kin, siyempre ibang level na ‘yung competition. More on set plays, tapos malalaki katawan. Papalaki lang ako ng katawan konti tapos mental preparation lang.”
In doing so, he will make sure that he will still make San Sebastian proud wherever he goes.
