Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) PBA Images

Basketball

Simon Enciso on ‘bow-and-arrow’ celeb vs SMB: ‘It wasn’t a statement’


ANTIPOLO – It was never about making any statement for Simon Enciso, even though some may have perceived otherwise.

The veteran guard pulled out his bow-and-arrow celebration after nailing a booming trey in the clutch to help TNT take down San Miguel, 89-84, and lay their winless spell to rest in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night.

The Beermen were in the middle of a major rally when he knocked it down from the left corner with exactly 49 seconds left to make it an 86-80 lead.

He then did his usual ‘celly’ (as today’s generation calls it) while jogging down the floor before, interestingly, staring down his former team’s bench.

But the 34-year-old Enciso clarified that he meant no harm, that it was just all part of the emotions he felt hitting that big of a shot

“It’s just playing the game with a lot of emotion. That’s a big shot. You guys all know my celebration, I don’t mean anything,” he said moments after the match at the Ynares Center here. “I mean, I’ve done it a lot for San Miguel, too.

“It wasn’t a statement. It was just me enjoying the moment, enjoying being on the floor, enjoying competing. I’m not trying to take for granted any second of it; any big moment, just trying to soak everything in.”

2025-PBA-Philippine-Cup-TNT-vs-San-Miguel-Simon-Enciso Simon Enciso on 'bow-and-arrow' celeb vs SMB: 'It wasn't a statement' Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

(C) PBA Images

Enciso wound up with 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting from three, two rebounds, and four assists to help TNT net its first win after an 0-3 start.

He sustained his solid play after finishing with 14 markers in their 95-81 defeat to Phoenix in Montalban the last time out.

#ReadMore  Bright Akhuetie, UP send NU to the brink, take solo fourth

And in these two games, the former PBA D-League standout is proving the Tropa right in their decision to pick him up from free agency after not being renewed by San Miguel, where he won his two championships.

“That’s the reason we got him,” said Coach Chot Reyes. “We need that extra shooter from the outside, as well as a backup point guard to Rey Nambatac.

“But Rey hasn’t been playing well in the first three games, so we decided to start Simon and give Rey a different look — balasa ika nga,” he added.

Still, Enciso has nothing against his former club. He also refuses to make it all about himself, even though he clearly was one of the major reasons why TNT was able to thwart SMB in another clash of proud franchises.

“It’s always fun competing against them. We always compete at practice. Even when I didn’t get a lot of minutes, it was a lot of tough scrimmages at practice. A lot of [expletive talking, a lot of… You know what I mean,” he said.

“Just tried to not make it about myself and just figure out what I can do to help Talk N Text win, try not to pay attention to what’s happening on the SMB side.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Jericho Cruz’s first eight years in the PBA weren’t exactly what he envisioned. But everything changed when he joined San Miguel. Though a key...

Basketball

Jericho Cruz’s fourth PBA championship might just be his sweetest yet. The emotional 6-foot-1 guard, who has been in the league since 2014, was...

Basketball

History repeated itself as San Miguel denied TNT a shot at PBA immortality by capturing the Season 49 Philippine Cup title following a 107-96...

Basketball

Almond Vosotros is embracing the challenges that come with assuming a bigger role for a TNT side dealing with injuries while in pursuit of...

Basketball

Poy Erram has been ruled out of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup after a meniscus tear was found on his left knee following...

Basketball

TNT kept its hopes alive as it stopped San Miguel from clinching the championship after grinding out an 86-78 victory in Game 5 of...

Basketball

Chris Ross cleared the air over his verbal exchange with Jojo Lastimosa after San Miguel’s Game 4 win in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals...

Basketball

Jericho Cruz defended his actions late in San Miguel’s eventual victory over TNT in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday...

Advertisement