In just the second game of his collegiate career, the Mark Nonoy whom fans expected to see has finally landed in the collegiate division of the UAAP.
The Iloilo native contributed 16 points, five rebounds and two assists in 21:39 minutes of action for the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in their huge 85-69 win at the expense of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“Sumandal lang kami sa sistema ni (coach Aldin Ayo). Kung ano ginagawa namin sa practice, yun lang yung ilalabas namin sa laro,” explained the former Tiger Cub.
“Kung ano maitutulong namin sa court, yun lang yung gagawin namin. [At] Kung ano yung rules na binigay ni coach sa amin, yun lang yung tatakbo namin sa court.”
Expectations were high for Nonoy coming into the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament. Just after his solitary season with the Tiger Cubs, coach Aldin Ayo inserted him in the Growling Tigers’ lineup in the PBA D-League. The point guard went on to star in the UST’s victory over eventual champions Ateneo Blue Eagles.
“Nandiyan yung trust nila coach sa akin na kaya kong i-overcome yung jitters sa sarili ko. And then tinulungan nila ako mag-adjust, na hindi kabahan, hindi ma-excited,” he disclosed.
Nonoy even outshone his some of his more illustrious opponents from the Fighting Maroons. Meanwhile, the likes of Ricci Rivero and Juan Gomez De Liano suffered a dismal game, scoring-wise, as they could only contribute four and five points respectively.
“Siyempre kasi, dati idol ko din yung mga yun eh, kasi sa TV ko lang makikita dati. And then ngayon nakalaban namin, and then yun, nag-compete kami so natalo namin sila. So malaking… Sila din yung naging motivation ko this coming Season 82.”
With two games under his belt, Nonoy has the rest of his UAAP career still ahead of him. The spitfire guard also pointed out how different his world was a few months back, when he played in the juniors division, to now with the big boys.
“Iba kasi yung sa high school eh. Madali lang sa high school. Ito, going pro na eh, and then yung mga kalaban ko, hindi lang kasing-edad ko. May mas matanda sa akin, so advantage ko na (ginagamit) ko sa kanila is yung speed,” he explained.
Ultimately, the Growling Tigers still have a long way to go. For now, Nonoy is simply basking in the changes, competition, and atmosphere around him as he grows through what he goes through. And it is safe to say that the Thomasian community will be there with him every step of the way.
“Siyempre may kaba pa din kasi iba na ito, big arena na ito, and then yung suporta ng UST community, nandiyan sila sa amin, sa likod namin. Hindi kami iiwan kahit ano mangyari,” ‘he said.
“Hindi ko iniisip kung (gaano kadami) yung tao, marami o (kaunti). Basta gawin lang namin yung pinapagawa ni coach sa amin. Yun lang yung iniisip namin.”
