As the captain of his team, Paul Manalang must have had an added weight on his shoulders considering that University of Santo Tomas endured a difficult start to its UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament campaign.
Losses to Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines could have ruined UST’s season before it could properly start. But back-to-back wins – at the expense of University of the East and Adamson University – have turned everything upside down.
“Actually, we prepared naman for this game eh,” said Paul, the younger brother of former UE Red Warrior Philip. “Sinasabi ng mga coach namin laruin lang naman game namin.
“Well si Jerom (Lastimosa), alam naman natin kung ano capabilities in Jerom so nag-focus lang kami sa dun game plan namin today, yung binigay at nilatag nila coach sa amin na game plan. We prepared sa practice and yun yung in-execute namin ngayon sa game.”
The former NU Bullpups standout then delivered big time for the Growling Tigers in their 79-70 victory over the Tamaraws. Behind five-out-of-7 three-point shooting, he led UST with 15 points in the contest. Talk about leading by example.
For Manalang though, there was nothing special with how he shot during the game. It was basically recalibrating what he knows and how he plays on the floor.
“Actually, speechless pa rin kasi although nag-prepare naman po kami, ready naman kami, sa ganitong situation, kung ano ang bigay ng defense sa amin ng kalaban, sa past two games ko kase sobrang sama ng field goal ko eh,” said the 22-year-old native of San Fernando, Pampanga.
“So ngayon, ni-remind kami nila coach na kung ano bigay na sitwasyon ng kalaban, dun kami mag-focus para if ever kung anuman ang ibigay nila, ready lang kami.”
For his head coach Jinino Manansala, he is just happy that Manalang finally found his shooting touch this season. He trusts his captain ball very much and leaves him to lead his fellow players.
That speaks volumes about the trust Manansala has in his 5-foot-10 guard. Finally, that trust converted to points on the scoresheet.
“Hindi ko kinakausap ‘tong si Paul eh. Hinahayaan ko lang mag-focus.
“Ayokong bigyan ng pressure. Kahit nagkakasalubong kami dun sa hallway namin, kindatan lang kami niyan. Alam na niya,” said the former St Clare College mentor.
Up next for Manalang and UST is another difficult game ahead. Season 84 hosts De La Salle University is on the horizon and the Growling Tigers will reunite with one of their former stars – Mark Nonoy.
La Salle will be another tough challenge for this UST team. With that in mind, Manalang insists that they just need to go back to basics.
“Mag-stick lang kami sa preparation namin sa practice. Kung ano yung ibibigay sa amin nila coach na tendencies, scouting sa makakalaban namin next game, dun lang po kami mag-fo-focus and yun execute lang namin yung game plan na ibibigay sa amin nila coach,” he said.
“Susuklian namin yung trust na binibigay sa amin nila coach every game.”
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