Just a few weeks ago, Nico Elorde was demoted to practice player during the start of the season
With the Mahindra Floodbuster struggling against the top-tier teams of the PBA, the team needed someone or at least something to rev-up the team’s engine.
Sunday afternoon, the much needed boost they needed came in the form of Nico Elorde.
“The little engine that pushed us is Nico Elorde today,” Mahindra head coach Chris Gavina shared after the Floodbuster’s 97-93 overtime win over Blackwater.
“He came in there, and you know, that kid is such an inspiration. He’s been in our practice squad for a while, he just kept working hard, working hard, and I’m happy for him.”
“Siguro pinaghandaan ko lang talaga ‘to ng sobra kasi kahit nung practice player ako, iniisip ko na ready ako anytime tawagin ako sa itaas,” Elorde furthered.
“So yun, sakto, nabigyan ng chance. Nabigyan ako ng opportunity, so sobrang thankful ako kay Lord.”
Elorde, the grandson of the late-great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, is known as a blue collar worker and his presence can not be seen in the stat sheet. He played that role in Mahindra’s first win in the 42nd season of the league, guarding floor general John Pinto and gunslinger Roi Sumang. Pinto was limited to four points in the last 17 minutes of the game while Sumang struggled altogether.
“Yun naman yung trabaho ko talaga, start sa defense. Kapag may chance umiskor, iiskor ako. Pero siyempre, defense talaga nagpapapanalo sa game,” said the 25-year-old who finished the game with six points and three steals.
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle though is still not a lock in Mahindra’s line-up. But after experiencing a turbulent season with defunct ABL club team MX-3 Aguilas a year ago and then going in and out of the Floodbuster’s line-up, he vows to continue to fight and prove his worth.
“Keep playing lang. Basta laban lang ng laban,” he said.
And this outing might be the puncher’s luck needed by Elorde to stay in Mahindra’s line-up.
