By: Ohmer Baustita
Two years is a long time, but for the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights center Larry Muyang, the wait is worth it.
After being shrouded in the shadows of Prince Rivero and Jason Perkins in La Salle back in 2015, Muyang found himself looking for a new home. All the way from Taft, he ventured towards Intramuros in Letran’s turf, hoping that he will successfully find his niche.
After finishing a year of residency under the tutelage of Knights head coach Jeff Napa, the 6-foot-5 center finally graced the hardwood anew.
Three games into the NCAA Season 94 Seniors Basketball Tournament, Muyang delivered his finest performance in a Knights’ jersey, flirting with a double-double outing of 14 points on an efficient 86 percent shooting clip, on top of nine rebounds, and three assists — showing how versatile he is as a big man.
After his stellar outing, the 23-year-old Letranite knew he had finally found a place that he could call home.
“Para sa’kin po nahanap ko na,” the Sta. Ana, Pampanga native bared moments after Letran’s 74-58 victory over JRU Bombers.
“Unang-una kay coach Jeff, binigyan po ako ng kumpiyansa tsaka parang dito ko na nakikita ‘yung future ko kay coach.”
For the grizzled tactician, he welcomed the 6-foot-5 big man with open arms, knowing how skilled a big man he is – though he also cited that Muyang still has plenty to work on.
“Maraming kailangan parin siyang iimprove. It’s a matter lang ng kailangan niyang maging confident sa sarili,” Napa shared. “Tapos siyempre kung ano ‘yung mga pinapagawa namin mga coaches, kailangan niyang pagtrabahuhan kasi given na ‘yung talent niya naman eh.
“It’s a matter lang kung paano niya ieexecute within our system.”
But aside from the talent of the former Green Archer, what Napa initially saw is the cager’s physicality, which he thinks will help bolster his once-small lineup back in 2015, when he first took the helm of the Knights after Aldin Ayo’s departure.
“Siyempre mahirap maglaro ng donut ‘yung team mo,” the bench strategist added. “Ever since naman kahit naman nung naglalaro ako, mahirap rin maglaro ng wala ka’ng kasamang bigman. Same thing din dito sa college eh.
“‘Yun yung problema namin last year, inaddress namin.”
Napa – who has garnered a reputation of developing bigman such as Justin Baltazar – looks to refine and polish not just Muyang’s game, but also Fajarito’s, another towering transferee, who also finished 14 points, to go along eight rebounds, and two blocks.
“Naniwala sa’kin ‘yung dalawa (Muyang and Christian Fajarito), nagtiwala rin sila sa school namin sa Letran. Siguro, ano lang, give and take. Kaya rin sinusuklian sila ng school sa binigay na opportunity.”
