Being a point guard in the UAAP is such a difficult endeavor.
There are so many players to go up against. The scrutiny is always intense because you become the primary ball handler of your team.
For Gab Gomez, life as Ateneo de Manila University’s point guard is coming into fruition.
The Filipino-Italian out of ITET Aldo Capitini was brought on by coach Tab Baldwin to run the team on the floor during their 75-68 win over University of the Philippines while starter Forthsky Padrigao was benched due to cramps.
“It was a tough game. UP yung number one eh. Sila yung team to beat. I’m so proud of our team kasi everyone nag step up talaga,” said the 22-year-old Gomez, who produced five points, three assists, and one rebound in close to 16 minutes of action.
“Nasa culture yun talaga ng Ateneo na mag step up. I’m so proud of our team.”
Slowly but surely, Gomez is becoming a more prominent member of this edition of the Blue Eagles. He was already on the team back in Season 84 but the likes of Padrigao, SJ Belangel, Tyler Tio, and Gian Mamuyac were ahead of him in the pecking order.
Now, there is an opportunity for him to show the Ateneo community and the rest of the UAAP what he is capable of. There are so many good players in this league and he is proving that he can belong.
“Somebody had to step up. This is the guy we’ve nominated to do that job,” said Baldwin. “You have to go up against [JD] Cagulangan, [Cyril] Gonzales, [Gerry] Abadiano, [Harold] Alarcon. One after another they throw at you. All of these guys are great pressure defenders
“Gab runs our offense. He made two turnovers and I think the second one he didn’t even know he was tired. Just a tremendous performance and a huge key in the fourth quarter of us doing a reasonably good job of taking care of the ball, particularly in the point guard’s hands and that was him,” he continued.
“I think without that performance, we’d really struggle to hold on to that lead.”
Amidst his mentor’s effusive praise, Gomez is just focusing on the task at hand. Ateneo will go up against Adamson University on Wednesday. It is a game they have to win if they want to seal the top seed at the end of the elimination round.
The 6-foot guard will surely be used in that game and he is already determined to just do his role once Baldwin calls him from the bench.
“Wala naman siguro kasi yung mentality namin dapat lahat ready. Pag tinawag ka, just be ready lang and be ready to do your job.”
