Deo Cuajao made his NCAA debut in style as the rookie transferee made crucial plays for three-time defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Sunday.
Cuajao, who moved from De La Salle University last year, churned out 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists in his first game for the Letran Knights.
He also drilled a clutch game-tying three-pointer that knotted the game at 73-all in regulation against Jose Rizal University at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Read more | JRU upsets Letran in OT to open NCAA Season 99
Unfortunately for Letran, they could not get the job done in the extra period, 85-79, though that didn't take away from an impressive first showing for Cuajao.
According to Cuajao, he just took it upon himself to step up with Letran's main gunner Kurt Reyson struggling to match his usual level of play.
"Naging ready lang ako sa binibigay na kumpiyansa ni coach sa akin kasi ayun nga, hindi masyadong maganda 'yung pinakita ni Reyson. Kailangan kong mag-step up," Cuajao said.
("I just kept myself ready for the confidence that coach has placed in me, especially because Reyson wasn't playing that well. I needed to step up.")
Reyson, who came off the bench, top-scored for the Knights with 18 points but struggled from the field, shooting just 3-of-14 (21.4%).
He did, however, knock down 10 of his 11 free throw attempts as well as tallied six rebounds and four assists.
But Letran coach Rensy Bajar admitted that his primary shooter struggled to find his footing, which paved the way for Cuajao and other players like Kevin Santos and Nicko Fajardo to earn the minutes.
In Cuajao's case, that included the look off an inbounds play that he converted into a clutch OT-forcing three with 3.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
"Medyo hindi kasi makuha ni Kurt 'yung timing niya and at the same time, maganda 'yung nilalaro ni Deo so binigyan namin ng chance si Deo talaga," Bajar said.
"'Yung concentration kasi ng defense nakay Kurt eh and may seven turnovers din siya kaya binabalanse ko 'yung pasok sa kanya."
("Kurt struggled to get his timing and at the same time, Deo was playing well so we gave Deo a chance... The concentration of the defense was on Kurt and he also had seven turnovers so I had to balance when to put him in.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
