BOCAUE — In just eight and a half minutes of play, Mason Amos made sure he left a lasting impression in his debut game for Gilas Pilipinas.
The 18-year-old Ateneo-commit showcased his skills in their match against Lebanon on Friday, helping the team secure a 107-96 victory.
Amos had a remarkable showing, scoring 13 points while shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. The young player credited his performance to his commitment to giving his team a spark of energy coming off the bench.
The Gilas Youth star became the team’s main man in the third quarter, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the said period.
“Just [to bring] energy coming off the bench. Really, it’s something new, I stepped up, just shot the ball,” he said.
The performance of Amos did not go unnoticed, with coach Chot Reyes commending the young athlete for his efforts.
Reyes expressed how the absence of key players, Kai Sotto and Carl Tamayo, was a blessing in disguise as it gave him an opportunity to take a closer look at Amos.
“He and Jamie (Malonzo) are basically our two bigs off the bench after June Mar (Fajardo) and JB (Justin Brownlee). As you know, we are decimated with the lack of our big players, the fact that they played well was a big factor,” said Reyes.
Despite his stellar performance, Amos revealed that he felt nervous during his debut game, especially when he shot his first basket. He admitted that it was a different environment from what he was used to in the under-18s.
Nevertheless, Amos felt grateful and honored to represent the country, saying, “I love the Philippines, man. It’s great representing the country. And yeah, I’m thankful.”
Reyes acknowledged that Amos still has a lot to learn and develop, particularly in defense. However, the coach recognized the young athlete’s shooting prowess, calling it a weapon that they can use moving forward.
