Fifteen-year veteran Cyrus Baguio deflected all the credit to his teammates following his 13-point outburst in the NLEX Road Warriors’ victory over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Saturday — the win that snapped their four-game skid.
Baguio scored 11 points of his output in the fourth quarter alone, proving instrumental in his team’s come-from-behind finish. Moreover, his production was his best in an NLEX jersey since joining them last August 2017.
“Tingin ko ito palang ata yung magandang laro ko simula nung na-trade ako sa NLEX,” said Baguio after their 81-78 win.
“Hindi ko naman magagawa yung mga ginawa ko kanina kung ‘di lang dahil sa mga teammates ko.”
Saturday became a show for NLEX’s veterans. Aside from Baguio, Larry Fonacier and JR Quiñahan made their mark in the win — the former had 17 points, while the latter chipped in 14 markers and five boards.
“Nandiyan si JR at Larry, maraming experience yan eh. Binigyan kami ng tiwala ni coach kanina, sinuklian lang namin kung ano yung binigay na tiwala ni coach sa amin,” said Baguio, who also had six caroms and four steals.
“Thankful ako na ginawa ko yung part ko at nakatulong ako sa team, sana mag-grow pa yung team.”
But more than his personal outing and the old-timers playing a huge part in the victory, Baguio is simply glad that the Road Warriors finally got the monkey off their backs, reviving their hopes of making it to the playoffs.
“Malaking tulong yung panalo namin ngayon. At least nawala na yung malas,” the 6-foot-2 guard said. “The more na natatalo ka, nadodown yung morale ng mga players e, nawawalan ng kumpyansa. Buti nalang nakuha namin yung panalo ngayon.
“Sana hindi lang ngayon yung success namin, sana sa future games din namin,” added the three-time champion.
“Meron pa kaming apat na game so kailangan lang ituloy namin at dagdagdan yung ginawa namin kanina.”
