ANTIPOLO – Even NLEX is allowing Jonnel Policarpio to take the time he needs as the rookie forward continues to find his niche in the PBA.
But after what they saw on Sunday night, the Road Warriors could safely say that the youngster is on the right track.
The two-time UAAP champion from La Salle played a key role in their skid-snapping 108-94 win over Phoenix in the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
There, the Kapampangan cager nearly finished with a double-double, tallying a conference-high 17 points alongside nine rebounds as he helped the crew in their fiery 41-point third-quarter assault to wrest control of the game.
“Binigay ko lang ‘yung best ko,” he said after the match at the Ynares Center here.
“‘Yung binigay na opportunity ni Coach Jong (Uichico) sa akin, hindi ko sinayang … binigyan ako ng opportunity para makapaglaro, pakita ‘yung kaya kong gawin.”
Uichico lauded the showing delivered by the sixth overall pick of the 2024 Draft and that, for him, is a testament to his willingness to learn.
“Learner naman si Poli eh,” offered the nine-time champion mentor. “At the start, kwatro, tres, kwatro… so medyo nahihirapan talaga siya.
“Now, nagiging sanay na siya sa dalawang klaseng posisyon,” Uichico furthered.
“And [let’s] give him some time, kasi rookie siya, siyempre. Unfair naman sa kanya na palipat-lipat ‘yung posisyon niya, ‘di ba?”
It sure is challenging to be shuffled into different positions in the rotation but Policarpio is never one to complain and instead puts in the work, much to the delight of the revered bench tactician as well as his deputies.
“Sa first conference, kwatro siya; at the start of this conference, kwatro siya, ngayon tres siya. Give him some time to make the adjustment,” he said.
“But he’s such a learning person, or player, na makaka-adapt naman siya,” Uichico added, “as the season or the conference goes on.”
Come Sunday night, ‘Poli’ reaped the benefits of his efforts as he was given the chance to shine when import Mike Watkins got into foul trouble.
So commendable was his outing that he earned Player of the Game honors for the first time, serving as the icing on the cake in the triumph that finally put an end to what was a harrowing five-game losing slump for the MVP team.
“Sobrang thankful ako kina Coach,” said Policarpio, who shot 7-of-13 from the floor and also had an assist and a steal.
“Every practice namin tinuturuan talaga ako. Kahit maliit na pagkakamali lang, kino-correct ako. Kaya thankful ako.”
