University of Perpertual Help System DALTA head coach Myk Saguiguit knew the team would bank on veteran Kim Aurin when they took Emilio Aguinaldo College in a knockout game on Friday.
According to Saguiguit, even Aurin's teammates knew and acknowledged that as well.
“Actually, ‘yung mga kakampi niya alam na it’s Kim Aurin’s team eh kasi he’s going to be looking for the draft na eh so last year na niya to,” Saguiguit shared after their 63-60 win over the Generals that catapulted them to the play-in round of the NCAA Season 97 men's basketball tournament.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanya bago ‘tong game na ‘to, ‘Kim, medyo so-so yung performance mo, hindi ka masisilip nang maganda dyan, magpakita ka ngayon against EAC at kung mabibigyan pa tayo ng pagkakataon kung ilang yung remaining games na mabibigay sa atin, trabahuhin mo nang maigi’.”
“Luckily, nag-Mamba Mentality [siya].”
The Altas veteran was averaging 14.5 points per game, 6th in the NCAA, prior to the game. He also ranks #6 in the league in three-pointers made (14) and three-point percentage (29.2%)
Aurin, though, went scorelesss in the first half, though the Altas led the Generals, 33-26, at the break.
The graduating player came alive in the next two quarters, especially in the fourth quarter where he scored 10 of Perpetual's 15 points to seal the win.
But he also had a lot of help, including from big man Mark Omega, who posted 13 points and 15 rebounds in the win.
“Most ng mga players namin ay coming off high school tapos may mga na-retain na kaunti lang so it’s an achievement for Perpetual na paunti-unti, ‘yung proseso na gusto naming mangyari, ay nagagawa na namin.”
—JMB, GMA News
