The Cignal-Ateneo Blue Eagles sent a chilling message to the other teams in their 2019 PBA D-League debut. They tore apart the Go for Gold-St. Benilde Scratchers with a 28-point beatdown, Thursday afternoon at Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
And at the forefront of the Blue Eagles’ merciless attack was Isaac Go.
The 6-foot-8 slotman made the venue into his own playground. He shot an excellent 7-of-11 from the floor – including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc – en route to 21 points. Go also collected four rebounds and an assist in 18 minutes.
“He’s gonna shoot the ball better this year, I think,” said Cignal-Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin. “But he’s gonna do other things as well. We’re working on his inside game, we’re working on his ability to put it on the floor.
“We want him to be an international four-man.”
On the other hand, Go is aware Baldwin is pushing him to improve, since he knows that he needs to play more from the four-spot. After all, Ateneo already have Ivorian student-athlete Angelo Kouame filling in the center position.
“I think that was the goal ever since. But I think it’s being sped up now because we have Ange playing the five now,” he said.
“Which gives me a lot more time to play at the four. And I think there’s always been a part of me to play the four because we knew eventually that me going up against seven-footers is not ideal,” furthered the 22-year-old.
But Go’s development isn’t just for Ateneo. Baldwin e wants Go to be an international four-man, and that means he should also be of help for the Gilas Pilipinas, where he’s in the pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
For Go, he welcomes the challenge.
“It’s a challenge. I think the first step was being included in the 23 for ’23. But as you see, a six-eight center isn’t really gonna perform well unless you’re really athletic, really strong like Poy [Erram]. Even though he’s probably six-eight, he can play center internationally,” the Gilas cadet shared.
“But of course, going up against seven-footers, not much ideal. Of course there’s June Mar [Fajardo], Greg [Slaughter], Kai [Sotto], Japeth [Aguilar], Andray Blatche, Christian Standhardinger. There’s a lot of fives, so the goal would be to try to get taller in the four or maybe the three spots,” Go explained.
“It’s a challenge. The goal is to play of course for the Philippines. And if that’s my way to do it, I’ll have to get better.”
