Paul Zamar was glad to prove that he still got it after submitting his best showing in a while to help NorthPort stay alive in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The 35-year-old guard fired 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, on top of five rebounds, three assists, and a steal as the Batang Pier sent Rain or Shine bowing out of contention through a 113-97 decimation.
“Kaya ko pa pala,” he said during the postgame presser of Saturday’s match at the Philsports Arena. “It’s been a long time. I haven’t played like this.”
It was Zamar’s career second-best performance, just behind the 23-point mark he recorded when he was still with San Miguel — albeit in a loss to NLEX back in the Philippine Cup bubble in Clark last November 6, 2020.
Including Saturday’s affair, the second-generation cager has turned in three double-digit performances for NorthPort since being traded to the ball club for Allyn Bulanadi and a future second-rounder last January.
He’s also emerged as its starting point guard and Zamar wasn’t shy to admit that it was among the things he envisioned upon landing on the team.
“Kasi before, when I was playing for San Miguel, spot minutes lang nilalaro ko, minsan ‘di pa ‘ko nakakapag-laro,” said the former ABL Heritage Import, who mostly rode the Beermen bench during his three years there.
“Now, every game, nakakalaro ako, ” added Zamar as he’s now logging 18,3 minutes a night with the Batang Pier.
“Ito ‘yung motivation ko, to take care of this trust na binibigay sa akin ng coaches and also the management. I’m glad it showed up in today’s game.”
All that wouldn’t be possible, though, without the trust of interim head coach Bonnie Tan, which Zamar is extremely grateful of.
“I’m very grateful sa trust na binibigay ni Coach Bonnie sa akin, and also the responsibility na binibigay niya as starting point guard,” he said.
“Nung una, start ng conference, medyo nangangapa pa ‘ko, medyo nanggigigil ako. Now they have talked to me na I just have to settle down and work on my game, and eventually darating naman ‘yon,” added Zamar.
“Alam naman ni Coach Bonnie, sinabi niya sa’kin na I can score, but he wants me to facilitate more. And then the offense will just come.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
