University of Perpetual Help System DALTA played their last game of the season.
The Altas lost in a close 78-74 game against San Sebastian on Friday and it’s not the ending that head coach Myk Saguiguit hoped for his graduating senior Jeff Egan.
“Yun nga, may utang ako sa kanya ngayon [pointing at Egan] dahil siyempre last game. Kasi all I want is makapag-bigay ng last win; last win game sa kanya,” said Saguiguit.
It was a not-so-good final two games for Perpetual as they also lost to Arellano University in a close 86-81 affair prior to this game.
But despite the poor ending, the veteran coach would rather focus on the positives — after all, Perpetual had lots of it as they look forward to going into the future.
“‘Yun ang panalo ko, ‘yun ang panalo ko ‘yung learnings. Sobrang dami… inside-outside Mataas ceiling ng Perpetual eh. Kasi ang lalaki. Tapos lahat on their third season. So ibig sabihin pag nasa third ka na parang medyo alam mo na ‘yung NCAA. Alam mo na ‘yung feel. And, wala naman kami addition kumbaga yan pa rin sila. Kumbaga ang nawala lang kasi si Kap Egan,” added Saguiguit, who is in his second season as Altas head coach.
“Tingin ko [sa] sistema ni coach Myk walang hinahanap eh. Walang isang taong pinupuntahan, so tingin ko naman lahat ng players naipapasok kayang mag deliver, kayang mag bigay ng numbers na maganda. So marami siyang Carlo Ferreras, [Rey] Barcuma, [John] Abis, [Mark] Omega matic yan eh. Pero di mo masasabi kasi ‘yung sistema di naka-sandal sa isang tao, anytime may player na puputok talaga,” Egan echoed.
Indeed the Altas are in good hands, as all of those four Egan mentioned showcased flashes of greatness this season with Ferreras, Barcuma, and Abis notching their career-highs in points with 22,22 and 21 respectively; while Omega also grabbing his career-best rebounds with 22 — the most this season.
And now that he’s on to the next stage of his career, Egan vows to focus more on his health as it will be one of the most important investments for his future.
“Marami eh, especially dun sa health; sa health ko. So ‘yun lang alagaan ko ngayon, gumaling na ‘yung achilles ko, so tuloy-tuloy ko na lang para pag may dumating na opportunity maging healthy na ako. ‘Yun naging problema ko eh [season] 97-98 hindi ako healthy. Ngayon papunta na ako dun – aalagaan ko na ‘yung [sarili ko],”
And when asked which league he wanted to go now that he’s done with his college basketball career, he had this to say.
“Depende pa, depende pa. Ako naman trabaho lang para pag may opportunity na dumating hindi natin masayang. “
