TY Tang and the staff of PBA D-League team Go for Gold-College of Saint Benilde Blazers needed some veteran presence to help steer their young team. And former NU Bulldogs assistant coach and current Saint Benilde analytics mentor Paolo Layug did not look far, deciding to pick up Jjay Alejandro and Matt Salem for the upcoming 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.
For Salem, what inclined them to join the upstart squad composed of student-athletes from the Blazers program was that they felt that they could learn a lot from the staff and the team.
“They have a good coaching staff. They have a good culture meaning there work ethic, they work hard,” said the 24-year-old stretch big man.
“Also I thought they can help me improve.”
Moreover, Salem and Alejandro made a pact after the UAAP Season Men’s Basketball tournament ended, that they would play together for one last time in the D-League.
“Jay and I always talked about continuing to play on the same team,” Salem quipped.
Salem averaged 8.3 points on 31.7 percent shooting from downtown to go along with 7.2 rebounds during the UAAP season. Alejandro, who had been part of the all-UAAP team, posted norms of 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals.
The Blazers, on the other hand, finished the NCAA Season 93 Seniors Basketball tournament eighth in the standings with a 4-14 slate.
This will be Salem and Alejandro’s last run before they turn pro.
