Already with five years of experience in the PBA, Nico Salva’s career game finally came on a Friday evening at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, when he and the Meralco Bolts took on sister team NLEX Road Warriors.
The product of the Ateneo de Manila University, who entered the league in 2013 in a draft class stacked with plenty of talent, scored 20 markers on an excellent 9-of-12 shooting to go with two rebounds in over 23 minutes of action.
Unfortunately, his best game as a pro went for naught.
The Orangemen lost hold of a 10-point lead in the final five minutes, eventually bowing to the Road Warriors in the end, no thanks to a game-winning jumper by super rookie Kiefer Ravena with 0.9 seconds left to play, 87-85.
“Siyempre [nandoon] yung feeling na sayang,” lamented the 11th overall pick in the 2013 Draft after the loss. “Kung nanalo kami mas maganda yung chance namin [for the playoffs].
“But ang sabi naman sa’min sa dugout we just [have to] keep on working hard.”
Regardless of the outcome, all that the 27-year-old forward wanted to do was to repay head coach Norman Black’s trust, which, according to the his production alone, he greatly accomplished.
“Coach Norman just kept on putting me in the other games even though I wasn’t producing much. He just lets me get my rhythm, get my confidence. I wanted to repay his trust,” said Salva, who won five UAAP titles with Black in Ateneo.
“[And I feel like] I was able to have the opportunity to honor and glorifiy God using the talents na binigay niya sa akin. And coming into games, yun lang naman gusto ko,” added Salva, who had been averaging just 0.83 points prior to Friday
Salva also tipped his hat to his fellow Atenean Ravena, who had 21 markers and seven rebounds in the victory. One of Ravena’s end-game highlights was a three-pointer with 43.4 seconds left, which he made over Salva’s defense.
“Kiefer is really a closer. Thats who he is, a closer,” lauded Salva of his former teammate, with whom he won two UAAP titles.
“Even though we played good defense against him, he has the ability to make those shots.”
After Friday’s showing, the young journeyman hopes that he can sustain his momentum to be able to help the Bolts, who are now 2-6 in the standings. But he is aware that it won’t come easy, since he is still a newbie into the franchise.
“I’m still trying to fit in, bago lang ako dito. Dumating lang ako nung December, so I’m trying to get to know my teammates, get to know the coaches, build relationships with them. That’s what they want,” said Salva.
