In a rematch of Season 84’s Battle of Katipunan finals series, Carl Tamayo once again showed why he is the alpha male at University of the Philippines.
The former National University Bullpup produced 20 points, 13 rebounds, and three assists in 33:37 minutes of action for the Fighting Maroons.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year even converted a priceless and-one play with 1:22 remaining in overtime. And that helped UP draw first blood over Ateneo with a 76-71 victory.
“Siyempre masaya kasi pinaghirapan talaga namin yung laro. Tapos yung process na maglaro kami as team, na-move namin ang bola,” said the 6-foot-7 power forward. “I think maganda yung ginawa namin ngayon. Hopefully, tuloy-tuloy kami mag-work as a team, mag-play as a team.
“Ang happy ko kase nalagpasan namin ang hirap na pinagdaanan namin sa laro. Talagang walang bumitaw.”
Tamayo was an outlet for his teammates all throughout the game because they knew that he was capable of powering his way through the paint.
Winners always want the ball during crunch time and the Cebuano big man made the most out of it. Still, he is careful not to take all the praise because he is part of a team full of multiple stars.
“Hindi naman siguro dinedemand ko yung bola. Siguro hinahanap lang ako ng teammates ko. I think nasa akin din yung momentum nung time na yun,” said Tamayo.
“Hindi lang naman ako yung hinahanap nun. I think if Zavier (Lucero) played well nung time na yun, si Zavier yung hahanapin namin or sinoman. Nagkataon lang na nakuha ko yung momentum nung overtime.”
However, Tamayo’s endgame heroics overshadow the fact that he had a poor start in the game.
The UAAP Season 84 gold medalist only scored two points but got seven rebounds in 15:19 minutes of action before the halftime break.
When the chips were down, the 21-year-old Cebuano relied on his teammates for strength to help him get going.
“Thankful din ako sa teammates ko na yung tiwala nila nandun. Talagang gumagawa sila ng paraan umabot sa akin yung bola kase alam nila yung momentum ko nandun,” said Tamayo.
He then added, “Na-appreciate ko sila na pinu-push nila ako. Kasi nung first half, hindi ako maka-shoot. Nahirapan ako pero naramdaman ko sila na tumira ka lang, ok lang yan, papasok din yan. Huwag ka mawalan ng loob, kailangan ka namin.
“I think yan yung nag-motivate sa akin come second half na kaya ko to para sa team ko. Ginawa ko lang yung best ko and I think yun lang. Nakuha namin yung panalo.”
Despite being one of the hottest prospects in Philippine basketball today, Tamayo is not forgetting that basketball is a team sport.
He may be UP’s top star but he knows that he is only as good as his teammates – who covered for him at the start, and for whom he delivered right at the end.
