Desperate for a breakthrough, Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals head coach Ariel Sison dug deep into his bench in search for a spark.
What Sison got instead was something bigger – he might have just found the future of his squad.
Benched in their loss against San Beda on Tuesday, JP Maguliano came out with the game of his life three days after as he led the Generals to a huge upset over the San Sebastian Stags, 79-77, to claim their first win in the NCAA Season 94.
The bruiser out of Isabela finished with 30 points and 17 rebounds in the victory, and that performance was more than enough for him to be named the Chooks-to-Go NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week.
“Benching him in our last game, he delivered today. Good for the team na hindi lang kami nagrerely sa first group,” said Sison.
Maguliano was a walk-in tryout after struggling to keep his life together as a student in Adamson and failing to get a spot in the team.
But the 19-year-old was relentless, eventually finding his way to the Generals’ tryout to finally get his priorities straight.
“Nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa kasi magthithird year na po ako sa Adamson nun, nagkakabagsak pa ako. Parang wala ng patutunguhan,” Maguliano said.
“Sabi ko, mag-tryout ako sa EAC. Pag pinalad, magffocus na ako dito.”
Now that he’s shown what he’s truly capable of, Maguliano hopes to continue to impress even despite catching the attention of other squads with his play.
“Sana po talaga magtuloy-tuloy na ito,” Maguliano said.
Maguliano edged out some serious competition for the weekly plum beating out the likes of reigning MVP CJ Perez of Lyceum, Letran’s Bong Quinto, and the San Beda tandem of Robert Bolick and JV Mocon.
