Letran team captain Jom Sollano was limited to his season-low last Friday.
Entering the game against the Perpetual Altas, the Knights were on a high, riding a four-game winning streak with Jom Sollano helping lead the way with norms of 9.84 points and 6.2 rebounds. Moreover, the Samar-native was able to bang bodies with centers Hamadou Laminou of EAC, Clement Letcheu of Saint Benilde, and Dioncee Holts of Arellano during that run.
However, the undersized center struggled against Nigerian student-athlete Bright Akhuetie.
The transferee from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation could not find his way in the paint against the hulking Perpetual Center, forcing him to shoot jumpshots. Sollano ended the game with just six markers on 3-for-11 shooting and three rebounds while allowing Akhuetie to post 21 points and 16 rebounds.
“Lahat nanggigil tapos hindi nasunod yung sistema,” Letran’s team captain shared after the game.
“Yung laro namin, ibang-iba. Kumbaga, lahat kami nag-look to score.”
Moreover, the Knights’ rotation was in disarray during the game as fellow front court member Jerrick Balanza sprained his right ankle early in the first quarter while floor general JP Calvo succumbed to cramps with a minute and 18 seconds remaining in the game.
“Naapektuhan din kami sa rotation kasi kumbaga, ang lalim na kung bumunot si coach Jeff [Napa],” the Samar-native said as Letran played a season-high 14 players in the game. “Nahirapan siya magpaikot ng tao kasi yun nga, nagka-injury.”
Sollano, who played 31 minutes in the game, opened up that his match-up with Akhuetie is the toughest he had so far.
“Sa ngayon, siguro, siya,” he shared. “Sa susunod na game, paghahandaan ko.”
“Siguro pinaghandaan niya rin. Ako, pinaghandaan ko naman. Siguro nga, mas pinaghandaan lang niya.”
Jom Sollano though has little time to rest as he and the Knights face Abdoul Poutouochi, Abdulwahab Abdulrazak, and the JRU Heavy Bombers on Thursday, July 27 at 2:00pm.
