Rey Barcuma had himself a game to remember, dropping a career outing against Jose Rizal University in their NCAA Season 98 debut.
The pint-sized guard showed up big time, producing a career-best 22-points on an efficient 10-of-11 from the field while taking a blowout 80-64 victory.
Barcuma, though, admitted that his career-best scoring outing wasn’t either planned or expected at all.
“Actually di ko ineexpect yon kasi pagpasok ko dedepensa lang talaga ako. Iniisip ko yung makastop ako at makatulong sa team,” said Barcuma, also who had a game-high four steals.
“Bonus na lang yung nakaka-score ako e.”
Just three years ago, the native of Bukidnon was playing in the UCBL for Olivarez College.
And in the two years he has already spent with the Altas, it definitely feels like home thanks to his seniors.
“Nakakabigay ng kumpyansa kasi ni-lead mo yung mga beterano e. Kasi point guard ka dapat maexecute mo yung mga play — lalo na beterano yung mga kasama ko, sila Kim [Aurin], sila Jielo [Razon], sila kuya [Jeff] Egan,” said the 22-year-old Barcuma.
“Maganda sa kanila beterano sila pero di sila nagagalit. Minomotivate ka nila lalo, binibigyan ka nila kumpyansa.”
Indeed, he has been embraced by the Altas.
“Si Barcuma medyo mayabang kanina eh. Sabi niya depensa lang daw siya pero naka 22 points. Akalain mo yun?” said the Altas head tactician, who was also the head coach of Olivarez College. “Depensa pa yun ah, pano pa kaya pag umopensa ka?”
“Masarap siya kakampi, nakakaurat siya kalaban. Sa training nagaaway kami, nagtitirahan. Nakakainis talaga siya kalaban. Masarap siya kakampi,” said Razon who helped Bacuma in the scoring department finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds.
“Kung lahat ng team may ganito [Barcuma] siguro may magandang depensa.”
With three years left in his college basketball career, surely Perpetual is in good hands for the seasons to come.
