De La Salle University’s blue chip recruit Encho Serrano had an up-and-down first round campaign. Though he showed flashes of what he can bring to the table, the 5-foot-11 combo guard could not string together a heater.
And so for the rookie – who averaged just 5.0 points per game in the first round – he could not afford to miss a single game. For Serrano, he needs all the repetitions he can get, especially after missing competitive basketball for the last two years.
And not even a classic case of the flu could stop him.
Tuesday evening, Serrano fell ill. But he vowed to first-year Green Archers head coach Louie Gonzalez that he would gut it out.
“Oo kahapon. Sabi ko [kahapon], magpra-practice ako, baka ‘pag gising ng umaga okay na ako. Kaya lang masama pa rin pakiramdam ko,” he admitted.
“Kaninang umaga nasa ospital ako. Kaya lang sabi ko maglalaro ako sabi kong ganun,” the native of Pampanga added.
“Atsaka gusto ko lang talaga makalaro para makuha ko na yung kumpyansa ko. Ayun, sana mag-tuloy-tuloy na.”
So play he did.
Against the University of the East Red Warriors, he played at a feverish pace to finish with a career-high of 18 points on 8-for-13 shooting to go along with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Moreover, he led the Green Archers to a 79-59 win.
For him, it was simply necessary.
“Sa akin lang, hindi ako pwedeng tumigil sa paglalaro lalong lalo na yung kundisyon ko. Alam kong di ako nawawalan ng kumpyansa.”
