THE Red Warriors are slowly peaking in their quest to reach the Final Four this UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament, thanks to the play of hotshot Alvin Pasaol.
Limping with cramps down the stretch, Pasaol never gave up and continued to play his heart out as he hit clutch baskets and finished with 32 points to carry the Red Warriors past University of the Philippines, 73-64, on Sunday to earn him this week’s UAAP Press Corps-Chooks To Go Player of the Week award.
It’s his second time to win the plum after he made a historic 49-point performance despite a sorry 100-106 loss to defending champion De La Salle. He delivered 32 markers in UE’s first win of the season — a 96-91 conquest over University of Santo Tomas two weeks ago.
The Sophomore sensation was the main man of UE’s surge of winning three of its last four games for an improved 3-7 win-loss record just a game behind joint-fifth placers UP and National University, who have identical 4-6 slates.
But the no. 2 scorer in the league, who is averaging 22.2 points per game including 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and as many as steals, did not take away the credit to the system of Head Coach Derrick Pumaren and the effort of his teammates.
“Siguro nag-stick lang kami sa game plan namin para manalo kami ngayon. Maganda rin pinakita ng mga teammates ko, the way sila mag depensa,” said the 6’3” forward, who stood out among candidates Santi Santillan of De La Salle and Matt Nieto of Ateneo for the weekly plum given by the league’s beat writers from broadsheets, tabloids, and online publications.
For Pumaren, Pasaol is a very special player compared to the several cagers he handled in his seasoned coaching career.
“Alvin, his game, has been ready. If he wants to score he can score. Very deceiving,” the UE tactician said. “Medyo ‘yung katawan, akala natin hindi kaya ng katawan pero you’ll be surprised. He is willing to sacrifice his body. Alvin is a very special player so far na nahhandle ko,” said Pumaren.
Pasaol and the Red Warriors are bracing for a tough match-up against De La Salle this Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
And the rising star vowed one thing.
“Kailangan siguro mas dikdikan pa ulit. kasi La Salle eh. Kailangan talaga lumaban,” he said.
