When De La Salle University needed a spark to secure a much-needed win over Adamson University last Saturday, few would have bet on swingman Joaqui Manuel to be the difference-maker in the contest following his struggles throughout the first round of the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Before La Salle’s 61-58 win over Adamson, Manuel only scored six points all season, which came at the back of two three-point shots against National University earlier in the round.
He then suddenly came alive against the Soaring Falcons, almost out of nowhere, with 14 points and six rebounds in close to 20 minutes of action.
“For me, it’s like a long time coming din to get that kind of game.
“I know I’ve put in the work this bubble,” said the third-year Green Archer. “I haven’t been producing for the team in the past six games before this. I had to prove to coach (Derrick Pumeren) na that I’m ready to take up the challenge and hopefully he sees this and I hope he will naman.”
“It’s like really just trusting the system eh and letting the game come to you. That’s what the coaches were telling me all throughout the game yesterday. I just did my thing. In the past two years, I’ve just been playing defense and letting the offense come to me. That’s what I did today. That kind of mindset of playing defense first. Yung points na lang extra sa akin,” the 22-year-old brother of Jett Manuel continued.
The 6-foot-3 forward’s performance was the best response he could have delivered to the Green Archers’ brain trust, led by Pumaren, after he was benched in La Salle’s games versus University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines.
Manuel coming on as a starter against Adamson was a surprise to many since Pumaren inserted the likes of CJ Austria and Emman Galman into his rotation recently. After the game, though, the veteran mentor’s decision was justified and he is now looking for more from his young protege.
“I think you have to give it to Joaqui. Hats off to him. I did not use him the last two games. I talked to him the other day and I told him that he has to be ready and he has to stay positive. He really worked on his game. Hopefully, he continues that kind of play sa amin,” said the two-time PBA champion coach.
“He just needs to stay focused on things that he is supposed to do. He cannot relax no? He cannot be just a one-game sensation. He has to be consistent. I have to get consistency from him. He really played well. He gave us that life.
“As I’ve said, he really stayed positive in spite na hindi siya nagamit for two games. He really played really well today,” he added.
Being stuck on the bench and watching one’s teammates compete on the floor is definitely a humbling experience for any player. As a holdover from the pre-pandemic UAAP campaigns, the experience must have been more excruciating and questions begin to creep into one’s mind as to what can be done to return to action.
Instead of sulking and being a negative influence on his teammates, though, Manuel just did what he knows best – work harder.
“I just kept on working out talaga eh. Workout skills like after games kahit talo or panalo, even if I wasn’t used, I just kept on working out. It paid off. It applies to everyone – if they put in the work, it will come eventually. I’m just happy that it did this late at this stage of the first round of the UAAP,” said Manuel.
“The mindset I had going into today’s game na defense first and knowing Manong, knowing the Pumarens, they really take it to heart to every player na defense really comes first and that’s what I’m gonna have for the rest of the season.”
For now, Manuel and the rest of the Green Archers are set to open their second-round campaign against defending champions Ateneo de Manila University on Tuesday. With a 5-2 record at the end of the first round, La Salle has a good platform to build on as it seeks to return to the post-season for the first time since 2017.
The challenges will only become steeper from this point onwards but he is determined to make up for lost time.
“As a team, our first goal, our short-term goal is Final Four first. I’ve been part of the two teams in the past two seasons na we didn’t make it to the Final Four and it hurts We just have to focus on the games ahead, on the game on Tuesday, and strive for that Final Four spot.”
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