Reggz Gabat spent his rookie season for San Sebastian College-Recoletos back in Season 97, where the Stags finished with just three wins to miss out on the Final Four.
During that campaign, Gabat only saw action for six games and averaged 0.67 points, 0.17 rebounds, and 0.1 assists as he played under the shadows of stars JM Calma, Romel Calahat, Ichie Altamirano, and Kenneth Villapando.
Gabat admitted his lackluster performance forced the coaching staff to cut him from the lineup in the following season and put him temporarily in their Team B.
However, that didn't stop the 6-foot gunner to work on his game, using that one year to improve his skills as he now makes his return to the bench of San Sebastian coach John Kallos.
"Kung isipin ko na pangit 'yung hindi ako na-lineup nung Season 98, mas lalo akong mado-down. So ginawa ko lang siyang motivation para sa season na 'to," Gabat said on Sunday.
"Tapos nakita naman din ni coach 'yung hard work ko every training so ayun, binigyan nya ako ng opportunity tapos grinab ko na."
(If I'll think that I was not part of the lineup in Season 98, then I will be more down. So I just thought of it as motivation. Eventually, coach saw my hard work every training, he gave me an opportunity and I grabbed it.)
From being cut, Gabat is now among the key players for the Stags.
He is posting 7.83 markers, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.83 assists and he gave his best game yet when he steered the Stags to a stunning 75-67 win against higher-seed San Beda University.
Gabat dropped 18 points on 4-of-10 from the rainbow country alongside two rebounds and two steals as San Sebastian improved to 4-8.
"Sabi sa'kin ng mga coaches, ng mga teammates ko, 'pag feel ko tira ko lang tapos 'wag kong kukunin 'yung kumpyansa ko sa opensa kundi sa depensa kasi 'yun talaga 'yung role ko," he added.
(My coaches and teammates told me, if I feel it, then I can shoot it. My confidence should not be on the offensive side but on defense because that is my role.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
