Even before the start of the Commissioners Cup, the Blackwater Elite had been a bruised and battered bunch. An injury incurred by Art Dela Cruz during the off-season forced him out of the conference, while rookie sensation Mac Belo is currently out for the next six weeks.
But when players fall, opportunities rise.
Mike DiGregorio’s shooting skills were first seen with the Mahindra Floodbuster during his rookie year back in 2015. But now, as he suits up for his new team Blackwater Elite, a more dynamic DiGregorio is on display.
He showed flashes of his being more than just a spot-up shooter in his Elite debut last March 18 versus Phoenix, after being signed from the free agent pool before the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup commenced. During that game, he nailed 13 points in a losing cause.
From there, DiGregorio averaged 6.3 points after four games. But his breakout moment finally came on Saturday night during the Elite’s breakthrough 118-113 win over the Globalport Batang Pier, as he lit up 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
And his output was actually two points shy of his career-best, which he posted back in December of 2015.
“I was aware,” admitted the 26-year-old, when asked if he had an idea regarding his scoring total.
“But it’s not about that, it’s about the win. I’m just trying to help the team offensively and defensively to win.”
For DiGregorio, this feat came due to the freedom given to him by coach Leo Isaac and the Elite.
“I’m super comfortable. Man, I don’t want this to be taken the wrong way but I feel like I always had this.
“Even at Mahindra, if you look back at my early games with them, I make 19, 20, 14…. It was when I was put in a box as a shooter. I just stand in a corner, I just wait,” recalled the Filipino-Italian.
“I feel super comfortable here. They let me make plays off the dribble. They make me work off the pick and rolls. I feel the freedom. Today, I knew I was starting and I wanted to come out aggressive and the coaching staff and the management has faith in this—I was just rewarding their faith. Their faith doesn’t go for naught,” the native of Chicago, Illinois furthered.
But aside from being comfortable with the Elite’s system, it is DiGregorio’s high confidence that makes the difference in what he does.
“As I’ve said before, the biggest thing for me is I feel like I always had it. It’s a mind-set. Kobe Bryant is one of my idols, and it’s ‘Mamba Mentality.’ It’s always being aggressive, always working your butt off every single day before and after the practices,” the 35th overall pick in the 2015 Draft shared.
“I feel blessed and very very grateful for Blackwater for letting me show my talent.”
