It took 13 games until Koy Galvelo got his breakthrough in the NCAA Season 94 Seniors Basketball Tournament, but the moment he hit his stride, there was no stopping the rookie marksman.
Scoreless in the first 12 games after being kept on the bench, the sweet-shooting combo guard is now beginning to settle down and that has been resulting in success for the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights.
Galvelo’s range and scoring has given the Knights an added dimension, leading to wins for the school as well as an individual plum for himself.
For leading the Knights to twin victories this week, Galvelo was selected as the Chooks-to-Go/NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week.
“Matagal ko na ring iniintay to,” said Galvelo who has turned his season around after spending the first nine games on the bench owing to the “ligang labas” issue he found himself in.
“As a rookie, siyempre kailangan mag-step up. Tapos yun nga, sa pagkawala ni Jerrick [Balanza], kailangan talaga ng suporta. Yung mga teammate ko, sinasabi na kailangan talaga naming tumulong,” he added.
Galvelo led the Knights in scoring in wins over the Emilio Aguinaldo College and Jose Rizal University, putting up averages of 15.5 points per game while making a total of seven three pointers in that stretch to open up the floor for Bong Quinto to operate.
Once considered a headcase, Galvelo has turned into an asset, and head coach Jeff Napa credits his leaders for Galvelo’s turnaround.
“Hindi ba I told you that he’s a very important player? Hindi siya bangko. Kailangan lang niya ng confidence talaga,” Napa said.
“Nagpapasalamat din ako sa mga teammates niya. Talagang hindi nila sinukuan at dinala nila ito sa tamang landas,” he added.
Galvelo became the third player for the 10-4 Knights to get the weekly citation after Quinto and JP Calvo.
He jumped over big names such as San Beda’s Robert Bolick and Javee Mocon, Lyceum’s Jaycee Marcelino, and EAC’s JP Magullano for the award.