After years of playing limited minutes with the De La Salle University Green Archers, it is safe to say that Matt Salem has adjusted himself to the National University Bulldogs.
The Filipino-American stretch forward dropped his personal-high Saturday afternoon against the UP Fighting Maroons, dropping 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, 3-of-5 from distance. He was the one responsible of stopping any hijack attempt in the game en route to an 80-69 win to keep pace for second place.
The soft-spoken 23 year old said that his personal feat was a testament to coach Eric Altamirano’s system of unselfish basketball.
“The team’s been working hard,” he shared. “My performance is well but I won’t perform like that if they aren’t setting me up.”
“The points didn’t come from me, it came from the guards, they were setting me up. My teammates were able to set me up. For us to execute, to go to practice, we don’t care who scores,” he furthered.
“For as long as we stick together and we stick to the system and stay together.”
Besides Altamirano’s system, King Bulldog Alfred Aroga’s new role as leader has given everyone a chance to shine he added.
“Alfred’s a great leader. He stretches the floor and he can dribble and create,” he said.
When he heard about this, Aroga shared how he continuously pushes Salem every game.
“Every time, I keep telling Matt Salem that even if we’re winning or losing, just keep doing your thing,” the Cameroonian student-athlete said. “I just encourage him as much as I can. And in my mindset, he can also help me out in my game. I always ask him to make shots, me, I’m gonna go for the rebounds.”
“I’m trying to give the shooters more confidence to shoot so I can go for rebounds.”
