Jamel Artis once again played for 48 minutes when NorthPort locked horns with Phoenix Super LPG in a PBA Governors’ Cup affair, Saturday night.
The American cager was without any relief whatsoever just like in the Batang Pier’s duel with Magnolia last Thursday, which led to him dropping 42 points as he powered his side to the 103-101 upset of the top seed.
And the result was no different two nights later. Artis finished with a game-high 29 points, leading NorthPort to the 101-93 victory that stretched its winning streak to three after starting the season-ending meet with five straight defeats.
“Sabi ko, ‘Jamel, just let me know if you want me to replace you, or sub you.’ Sabi niya ‘No, no, I’ll play 48 minutes,'” shared coach Pido Jarencio. “Sabi ko, ‘Are you sure? Because you had a hard game last game.’
“Tapos sabi ko ngayon, another hard game tonight for sure. They’re gonna pressure you. Sabi niya no problem. I’ll take care of myself. Sabi ko, ‘But I want a W.’ ‘Yes, I’ll give you the win,’ sabi niya,” he added.
But, isn’t that a cause of concern, for it may possibly take its toll on Artis soon? Jarencio was asked if ever he feels worried about it. He isn’t.
“Ba’t ka mag-aalala roon sa bata, eh 29 years old ‘yun?” the seasoned mentor said. “Eh sana kung 35 years old yun. Eh yung Arwind Santos nga, 40 years old, naglalaro ng trenta, kwarenta minutos eh. Eh ‘yung Artis… alam mo ah, ‘yung player na ganun, parang mas gusto niya ‘yung naglalaro kaysa nagpapahinga siya. Kasi once na nagpahinga ka — ako naging player eh — parang mawawala ‘yung timing mo.
“Tapos, ang lamig-lamig pa nung coliseum, baka ginawin ka, tapos pagbalik mo, ‘di na ganun yung laro mo. ‘Di katulad ‘pag nasa loob ka, nababasa mo lahat kung kailan ka aatake. Actually, he’s decent whole game, decent siya.”
After all, it’s Artis, himself a former NBA cager, who told Jarencio that he would want to play for 48 minutes.
“Eh ano pa masasabi mo? Kaya bigay ko sa kanya ‘yun kung gusto niya. Tsaka bata ‘yun, 29 years old,” quipped the cager-turned-coach.
“Ako nga nung 28 years old, tatlong beses maglaro, umaga, tanghali, hapon eh.”
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