Javee Mocon has just put the league on notice, Friday night.
The rookie out of San Beda had his finest performance to date, finishing with excellent numbers of 18 points and 17 rebounds to help the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters defeat reigning, four-time champs San Miguel Beermen, 108-98.
“Hats off to Javee Mocon. He played his best game as a rookie,” praised Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia, who nabbed Mocon with the sixth pick in the 2018 Draft.
“He never stops working. That’s the nice thing about the kid.”
But as impactful as he had been, Mocon said that Friday’s victory was just a result of the Elasto Painters’ collective effort especially on defense, which limited the Beermen to just a measly 39 percent shooting from the field.
“It was a collective effort talaga,” shared the 25-year-old from Antipolo. “Lahat kami nagtulungan sa defense.
“Pinakita nina kuya Raymond [Almazan], kuya Beau [Belga] guarding June Mar [Fajardo] and [Christian] Standhardinger.”
And that same collective effort is what led to his career-high 17 rebounds.
“Yung mga bigs namin, they were working hard, guarding, boxing out June Mar so yung akin lang naman I just had to get in there, get the rebounds kasi mas maliliit ‘yung guards nila eh. So I think ‘yun yung advantage namin.”
Looking back at the 2018 draft projections, the four-time NCAA champion was seen to be picked as high as fourth. So his performance Friday night was like his message to the other teams that passed him on Draft night.
But Mocon said otherwise.
“‘Di naman. Wala sa’kin ‘yon. Siguro kahit pang-sixth ako, it’s a blessing in disguise kasi napunta ako Rain or Shine,” expressed the 23-year-old out of San Beda, who averaged 9.67 points and 7.0 rebounds prior to Friday. “‘Di ko naman nilalagay sa utak ko yun.
“Kahit ma-draft naman ako at fourth, I’m just gonna prove them na I’m going to be one of the best players in the league.”
