In what is his best game yet in the college ranks, San Sebastian Stags forward Michael Calisaan scored 35 points on 15-for-20 shooting and hauled down 16 rebounds as the Stags won over the Lyceum Pirates.
How he did it wasn’t fluke; he simply fits the mold of this basketball era’s forwards, which are expected not just to roam inside the paint but to do a plethora of things inside the court.
“Wala akong masabi diyan. He has been very steady an consistent since the start of the season. I knew it will be his breakout year. Hindi niya finefail yung team,” Stags head coach Rodney Santos talked about his sophomore forward.
A product of the San Sebastian juniors lineup and a perennial Palarong Pambansa participant, Calisaan is only 20 years old and has learned how to fit in as a system player for the Stags.
It is paying dividends right now, with his ability to put the ball down, run, hit from the perimeter, and hustle for the leather.
“Yung system ko, fit sa kanya. Sa triangle, if you have the medium range, fit ka don. Now we go dribble-drive, fit pa rin siya doon,” Santos added.
“He can rebound, dribble, and ang pinakamalaking weapon niya talaga is yung medium range niya. Kung wala siya noon, medyo mahihirapan siya kasi he is not so fast.”
Calisaan shared Ian Sangalang, a former Stag, is one of his inspirations for playing, and that he learned the proper basketball attitude from him.
“Si Kuya Ian talaga ang (dahilan) bakit ako nagbasketball years ago. Yung attitude ang natutunan ko sa kanya.”
Santos believes at this stage, Calisaan has a long say to go and he will definitely make impact in the future.
“Yung potential niya, if he can learn how to use it and maximize his talent, maganda (para sa future). Marami pa siya mapagdadaanan at matutuunan.”
Michael Calisaan and the San Sebastian Golden Stags will face the frontline of Ola Adeogun, Art dela Cruz, and Micole Sorela on Thursday, August 13 at 4:00pm
