James Kwekuteye played his worst game of the season on Saturday.
Up against an embattled University of Perpetual Help System DALTA that was missing its captain Kim Aurin, the San Beda senior went ice cold in the 45-minute affair.
Averaging a team-high 16.5 points, together with 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists prior to the game, Kwekuteye was held down to just five points on an awful 2-for-17 shooting clip.
And Kwekuteye admitted that he let his team down after the Red Lions absorbed a 75-72 overtime defeat at the hands of the Altas — their first loss against the Las Pinas-based school since NCAA Season 91.
“Well, Perpetual really put up a fight. They really wanted more than us today. Well, what can I say, I had a bad game, and let my teammates down,” said the NCAA Season 95 Mythical Team member.
“There’s no reason, it’s all me. Everyone has a bad game, right?
“Michael Jordan has a bad game, Kobe [Bryant]. Nobody’s perfect, so I just gotta go back; go back to the basics, then go from there. Next game, worried about the next game,” he explained.
Even first-year Red Lions head coach Yuri Escueta admitted that the shots Kwekuteye usually makes on a regular basis were not just falling against the Altas.
“Well, those are open shots. Just told them na keep taking them. Wala naman ako problema dun,” shared the head tactician.
“Diba everyone’s entitled to a bad game, but knowing James’ he’s gonna be better next game; he’s gonna step up, and play harder.”
It was a tough loss for the Red Lions in the razor-close NCAA season as it dropped them to 6-4 — just 1.5 games ahead of Perpetual and two full games ahead of Arellano.
And for Kwekuteye, he has to just go back to the gym and make do some extras.
“It’s gonna go back to the drawing board; going back to the lab. Just take my shots early morning, just do always what I do,” said Kwuketye.
“We’re just gonna go hard next game. Because, we came off a loss right, so for sure we’re back.”
