Pao Javillonar was the hero Caloocan needed in its second game in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Invitational on Tuesday.
With three seconds left and the Excellence down by one, 78-79, Joseph Peñaredondo muffed his jumper. Fortunately for Caloocan, the 6-foot-6 Letran Knight was there to clean up the miss. He knocked down the game-winning putback.
But for Javillonar, he did nothing spectacular. After all, cleaning up his team’s mess is his job.
“That was garbage points lang kasi from a putback eh,” said Javillonar, who had 15 points and a game-high 19 rebounds in the game.
“Yun talaga yung strength ko, yung putback. Kami ni Kuya Mon [Mabayo], kami yung enforcer ng team at trabaho namin yun.”
During his short stay so far with Calocaan, Javillonar has become close with Mabayo despite a 14 year age difference.
In fact, he proudly calls himself Mon Jr.
And the relationship he has with Mabayo is something that he is relishing before going back to Letran for the NCAA Season 97 Men’s Basketball Tournament early next year.
“Iba yung experience. Yung age gap namin malayo kaya ako, inaabsorb ko lang kung ano yung sinasabi niya sa akin,” he said.
“Best advice na nakuha ko sa kanya is maging maingay sa court.”
