Three-year PBA veteran Oping Sumalinog has seen it all. From winning numerous championships with the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, to being sparring mates with the veteran-laden TNT Katropa, to now being a veteran with the young Cignal HD Hawkeyes, the 27-year-old swing man continues to make do with the cards dealt to him.
“Every opportunity naman ginagrab ko lang. Alam ko iba iba stories ng players dio sa D-League, may ibang players like me na dumadaan talaga sa mga daan na di masyado tine-take ng ibang players,” Sumalinog reflected.
“I take this job personally. Mahal na mahal ko yung basketball, day-in and day-out yun ginagawa ko.”
Just as he admitted, Sumalinog takes losses hard.
Last May 25, Sumalinog and the Hawkeyes suffered an 84-86 loss at the hands of Jeron Teng and the Flying V Thunder. Sumalinog finished the game with just two points on 1-for-3 shooting from the field.
“He’s been practicing his three-point shots. If you can remember last game, we only converted on twenty-seven percent of our three-points,” Cignal head coach Boyet Fernandez shared. “I told them that we averaged thirty-nine percent last conference. I encouraged them to do extra shooting.
“Again, Oping always comes in early to take some extra shots.”
“Ino-own ko yung nangyari against Flying V. Feeling ko kulang contribution ko kaya kami natalo,” the 28th overall pick in the 2014 PBA Draft added.
The Cebuano proved to be the spark Cignal needed against fellow-contenders Tanduay on Thursday evening, scoring 11 of his game-high 14 points in the opening frame. His aggressiveness helped paved the way for Cignal’s 89-63 rout to enter the win column.
“I’m happy that he made his shots today. Oping is one of my stoppers so if gets those points, it’s just a plus for us,” Fernandez beamed.
“Gusto ko lang maka-contribute lalo na isa ako sa mga beterano,” added Sumalinog, who shot 4-for-5 from the field.
And being one of the oldest players in the team, he just wants to lead by example.
“Gusto ko rin makapagbigay ng leadership sa mga teammates ko na magpapa-draft, gusto ko i-share sa kanila yung mga natutunan ko sa PBA,” Sumalinog expressed.
“Sa akin naman personally dun ako kumukuha ng kumpyansa, that I’ll be able to contribute sa mga young ones.”
