During the PBA D-League, the San Sebastian community were given a glance of the things to come when the NCAA Season 95 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
The duo of RK Ilagan and Allyn Bulanadi was given the wheel by Egay Macaraya and it paid dividends.
Ilagan averaged 20.4 points in the tournament while Bulanadi was equally-impressive with a norm of 20.0 markers per game. The duo led the Valencia City, Bukidon-San Sebastian Golden Harvests to the semis before bowing to eventual-champion Cignal-Ateneo.
“One thing about that is the preparation. The D-League and the preseason games nagkaron sila lahat ng kumpyansa,” recalled Macaraya.
And with Bulanadi back at full strength after injuring his right shoulder, the two ran roughshod on the Mapua Cardinals, Tuesday afternoon.
Ilagan fired 20 points while dishing out eight dimes while Bulanadi added 16 points to lead San Sebastian to a dominant 92-68 win.
Macaraya shared that he likens his duo to Houston Rockets tandem of Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Well, just like Westbrook, Ilagan wears the number 0 while both Harden and Bulanadi are both lefties.
“Just like Westbrook and Harden, RK and Allyn should share the ball and do anything you want.”
Bulanadi took it in stride, saying that they are just doing the roles they are given.
“Siyempre kailangan namin gampanan role namin. Kailangan iaangat pa namin ang laro namin para makuha namin yung championship sa NC.”