Letran Knights veteran Pao Javillonar knows everyone on his team can score, and today, it just so happened that the person to step up turned out to be him.
The graduating big man detonated for a career-high 28 points, fueling an 86-79 comeback for Colegio de San Juan de Letran against skidding Arellano University to bag a second straight win in NCAA Season 100 on Tuesday.
His career game saw him knock down three triples in just the first half after he only made one of his three total three-point attempts last season.
His performance, which included shooting 68.8% from the field and tallying eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, was a testament to what he did in the offseason, where he decided to shed weight to fit into the system of new Letran head coach Allen Ricardo.
"Offseason so bagong coach, bagong sistema and nakita niyo ‘yung build ko dati, nagpapayat ako kasi dapat mag-fit ako sa system. ‘Yun ‘yung una kong ginawa and then syempre kung ano ‘yung mga ini-inject ni Coach sa sistema kailangan i-absorb ko," Javillonar said after the game.
"Kung sino ang mainit, doon kami. Suportahan kami. Anyone can shoot, anyone can be a leader din kasi kailangan kong maging role model dahil ako ‘yung team captain."
[It was the offseason so we had a new coach, new system, and you saw my build in the past, I slimmed down so that I could fit in the system. That was the first thing I did and then whatever Coach injected into the system, I had to absorb also… Whoever is hot, that’s who we’ll go to. We support each other. Anyone can shoot, anyone can be a leader. I need to be a role model also because I’m the team captain.]
Javillonar said he lost 12 kilograms from his previous weight of 105kg, sharing that he now limits his intake of rice every meal. This is all an investment that will help prepare him for what's next: playing in the professional ranks.
"Nag-invest din ako sa nutrition kasi ayon din ‘yung kailangan ko pagdating ng pro so kumbaga nilu-look forward ko na," Javillonar, who was part of Letran's three-peat dynasty, added.
[I’m investing in nutrition because that’s what I’ll need when I go pro. So it’s like I’m looking ahead.]
Javillonar, who has already been drafted by Converge in the PBA, shared that it was the prospect of him playing in the pros that sparked his decision to focus on his health.
"Nag-inspire sa akin ay nu’ng na-draft ako sa PBA so sabi ko iba na labanan dito, kailangan may alaga sa katawan, kailangan disiplinado kasi sa PBA trabaho na ‘yun eh," Javillonar said.
"Kumbaga longterm na ‘yon, yun na ‘yung buhay natin. Dapat simulan mo sa sarili mo."
[What inspired me is I was drafted to the PBA so people have said that it’s really competitive, you need to take care of your body, you need to have discipline, because in the PBA, that’s your job.]
But despite already having a spot in the pros, he deemed it right to return to Letran to play out his final year.
While he stays in Muralla for now, for Javillonar, the preparations for the future starts now.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
