Despite being removed from the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals squad midway last season, the returning King Gurtiza is making the most out of the second opportunity bestowed upon him by new head coach Jerson Cabiltes.
Gurtiza, alongside teammate Ralph Robin, was suspended in Season 98 after violating team rules. The Generals finished with a tournament-low 3-15 record that year.
With the hiring of Cabiltes came another chance for Gurtiza to make amends for his mistakes. According to Gurtiza, he and his teammates are lucky to have the new Generals mentor.
“Sobrang blessing sa amin na dumating si coach Jerson. Wala talaga kaming masabi, sobrang pasasalamat sa kanya.”
(It is such a blessing that coach Jerson came to us. We have no words, we are very thankful to him.)
“Noong dumating siya, nag-usap kami na bibigyan kami ng last chance ni [Ralph] Robin. Sabi ko sa kanya, pinangako ko sa kanya na I will never take it for granted and thankfully lumabas talaga,” added Gurtiza.
(When he came, we talked about giving [Ralph] Robin and I another chance. I told him, I promised him that I will never take it for granted and thankfully it showed today.)
Already starting to hold up his end of the bargain, the veteran guard spearheaded a huge 75-65 win over the NCAA’s reigning champions Colegio de San Juan de Letran, scoring a game-high 23 points on an efficient 64.3 percent shooting from the field.
However, even with his hot-shooting performance, Gurtiza asserted that his first priority against Letran was to contain star guard Kurt Reyson.
“Para sa akin, bonus lang 'yung offense eh. Sabi sa akin ni coach Jerson before the game ay trabahuhin ko raw si [Kurt] Reyson. 'Yun nga, 'yung star player ng kabila. Binantayan ko talaga siya ng matindi, pinahirapan ko makakuha ng bola at maka-shoot,” said Gurtiza.
(For me, my offensive output is just a bonus. Coach Jerson told me before the game that I would be defending [Kurt] Reyson, the opposing team’s star player. I really guarded him intensely and I made it hard for him to get the ball and get to his spots.)
The veteran swingman was true to his word as he limited Reyson to only seven points on 1/12 (8.3 percent) shooting.
For Cabiltes on the other hand, it is his players he gives all the praises to for their undefeated start to the new season.
“Actually, 'yung credit naman is all down to the players adapting to the system. Sabi ko nga sa kanila na each and every game hindi lang isa 'yung aasahan namin. For example, the last game si Maguliano, tapos ngayon si King. So we are just going to support each one,” asserted the EAC tactician.
(Actually, all the credit goes to the players for adapting to the system. I told them that each and every game, there is not one person that we are dependent on. For example, it was JP Maguliano in the last game. Now it is King. So we are just going to support each other.)
As for Gurtiza’s breakthrough performance, Cabiltes said that he is just glad to see that his player is not wasting away his second crack at playing collegiate basketball.
“Sa lahat naman ng kino-coach ko, I always give emphasis on giving second chances to everyone. Kasi, life is about having that one more chance na ayusin mo at gawin ng tama kung ano man yung pagkakamali mo.”
(With all the players I have coached, I always give emphasis on giving second chances to everyone. Because life is all about having that one more chance to fix and do good with the mistakes you have made)
Gurtiza, Cabiltes, and the rest of the Generals hope to continue their two-game winning streak when they play the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Wednesday afternoon.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
