With a mix of second-generation players and highly-touted prospects making waves, University of Santo Tomas combo guard Jhon Canapi took the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament by storm.
The two-time Junior MPBL MVP proved time and time again that he belongs with the best of the best.
Three games into his UAAP career, Canapi set the tournament scoring record with 35 points in a 100-77 win over the Blue Eagles on September 11.
However, he would go on to break his own record in a game with even greater stakes.
Canapi exploded for 38 points on 14-of-24 shooting, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc. He also added six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, as the Tiger Cubs moved one step closer to securing the third Final Four ticket with an 82-65 win over the Adamson Baby Falcons last Wednesday.
“Masaya ako today kasi panalo kami at tsaka hindi ko naman alam na naka 38 points ako. Nagprepare talaga kami nila coach sa training dahil kailangan talaga namin makuha yung panalo, especially dahil dalawang slots na lang meron sa Final Four,” the West Fairview Elementary School product shared.
After being limited to just 13 points in the first half against Adamson, Canapi knew he had to give everything he had, even against a bottom-seeded team like the Baby Falcons. He pushed through and buried them with a 24-point deficit.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With that in mind, and motivated by the green light from UST’s coaching staff to shoot, Canapi poured in 25 of his 38 points in the second half, not only securing the win but also giving the Tiger Cubs extra momentum as they pushed toward the Final Four.
“Kailangan talaga namin yung panalo ‘eh. Kung kailangan namin sila tambakan ng 30 points o pataas pa, dapat 30 talaga, para madala namin yung momentum heading into the next game,” the 5-foot-9 guard revealed.
“Wala naman bawal sa amin tumira, basta open, tira lang nang tira sabi ni coach. Next game, magpre-prepare talaga kami para makaclinch na nung Final Four spot,” he continued.
Despite Canapi’s stellar individual performance, UST head coach Noli Mejos is hoping that his star guard, along with the continued emergence of Andwele Cabanero and Miguel Jubilado, will maintain consistency and peak at the right time to finally secure a Final Four spot.
The Tiger Cubs can officially clinch the third Final Four ticket with a win against the Junior Archers tomorrow, November 24, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
“Sana lang, every crucial game, mamaintain niya yung galing ni Canapi. Kahit hindi 38 points, basta maganda ang laro niya. ‘Yon ang importante, kasi gusto ko lang maging consistent siya, huwag lang bumaba laro niya, pati yung ibang players namin,” Mejos shared.
