Keith Pido had huge shoes to fill this season after former NCAA Most Valuable Player and one of the finest products of the Perpetual Altas, Scottie Thompson moved on to the pros.
In the first 12 games of the Altas, the third year floor general averaged just a shade above six points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.3 dimes per game. It was lucky number 13 for the Negros Occidental-native as he played his best game of the season against the Arellano Chiefs Thursday afternoon.
And he did this in front of one of his idols and mentors Scottie Thompson.
“Idol ko po siya kaya ginagaya ko ng konti mga galaw niya,” Pido, who finished the game with his season-high 10 points and dished out seven assists in the win, said.
“Di talaga ako offensive-minded. Pero depensa talaga ako. Dadating at dadating naman yung opensa.”
On the defensive end, the 5’11 guard helped limit MVP-candidate Jio Jalalon to a horrid shooting night, 7-of-22 from the field for 19 points. Pido shared that he was challenged by the match-up that was assigned to him.
“Na-challenge po talaga ako. Seryoso. Kasi number one point guard po siya dito sa collegiate,” he shared.
“Ginagawa ko na lang po ang lahat para mabantayan siya at ma-stop yung mga ginagawa niyang mga points.”
With the Altas closing in on a Final Four berth, the lanky point guard is taking in everything he could learn from Thompson in saying, “in-advise niya sa akin na basahin muna ang play. Kapag wala nang option, ikaw na kumuha.”
“Nung nawala si Scott, saka ako nag-extra work at pinapalakas weaknesses.”
