PAGADIAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR—Rhaffy Octobre played limited minutes Wednesday night in Zamboanga Sibugay’s third game in three days in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge.
Those five minutes of playing time, though, were all according to plan. The Anak Mindanao Warriors will also have a game Thursday against Roxas.
“Noong Wednesday, meron akong players na hindi masyadong ginamit para sila ngayon ‘yung binigyan ko ng kumpyansa against Roxas,” said head coach Arnold Oliveros.
There, Octobre led Zamboanga Sibugay to a 72-67 escape of the Vanguards. They even their slate at 2-2 at the Pagadian City Gymnasium here.
He exploded for a huge double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds, with one triple. He also went 6-of-13 from the field.
“Gusto ko lang mag-compete kasi ‘yung opportunity na binibigay ni coach sa akin malaki, so ginrab ko lang ‘yun. All-out ako whatever it takes,” said the 6-foot-4 forward.
Of those 14 boards, eight came from the offensive end. He alone almost outpowered the whole Vanguards squad in that category, 8-10.
And that was something Octobre really prepared for as a result of him doing extra film work to improve his game after the Warriors’ first two games. Both match-ups were losses.
“During the past two games na talo kami, pinanood ko ‘yung game ko,” said the University of Visayas product.
“Nakita ko na nakakalamang kami sa positioning ng rebound so ‘yun ang inisip ko i-take advantage at na-apply ko naman dito.”
Octobre, part of the KCS-Mandaue that grabbed the Visayas Leg championship, also delivered the goods when the Warriors needed them the most.
The Leyte native scored eight of the 15 Zamboanga Sibugay fourth quarter points en route to the victory.
“Kailangan lang talaga namin ma-execute ‘yung plays. Kasi kapag nagda-drive ‘yung mga kasama namin nagko-collapse ‘yung depensa nila na-oopen ako.”
