Right after bagging the All-Star game Most Valuable Player award yesterday, Nat Cosejo continued the high he was feeling, this time against league-leader College of St. Benilde.
Cosejo came alive to open the second round, finishing with a career-high 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting together with nine rebounds, an assist, and a block.
Generals head coach Oliver Bunyi had nothing but praise for his senior who stepped up big time despite mourning from the loss of his mother.
“Nat Cosejo talagang ano yan eh. Just really a hard worker eh,” said the Generals head tactician about the former UST Growling Tigers.
“Imagine yung sacrifices ni Nat. I think wala pa atang two weeks nung nawala yung mother niya and then di din siya nakapag-practice for more than a week. And then knowing him alam kong hindi niya pinababayaan yung sarili niya so after ma-bury yung mother niya, bumalik agad siya dito, nagpakundisyon agad,” he continued.
It was a huge win for the struggling Generals as they caught a big fish on the Blazers who are at the top of the standings.
Cosejo Earns Praise
For Cosejo, learning from the greats was one of the reasons why he finally found his touch.
“Siguro yung all-star kahapon nakadagdag ng kumpyansa sa akin kasi nga may natutunan ako sa mga PBA legends na nakasama ko,” said Cosejo who finished with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting for Team Heroes.
Speaking of greats, Cosejo also got a nod from the PBA legend Allan Caidic.
Unexpected was the word he used to describe his feelings after he found out that he got recognized by one of the country’s all-time best.
“Di ko ineexpect na mangagaling [sakanya] yun syempre. Ano lang din naman ako, galing probinsya. Binigay ko lang lahat ko, kaya hundred percent lagi pag naglalaro ako,” he said.
And after this win, Cosejo is positive that this will be the start of something special for the Generals.
“Siguro eto na yon, kasi eto na yung inaantay naming panalo. At sana eto na rin yung magbigay samin ng kumpyansa. Kasi nung nakaraan confidence yung kulang namin saka kinakapos kami lagi sa dulo. Kaya ngayong nakuha namin sana magtuloy-tuloy na.”
