With Paeng Are not available for San Sebastian College-Recoletos' game against Arellano University last Sunday, rookie James Maliwat stepped up to be one of the main facilitators of the Golden Stags.
Are is still recovering from a knee injury he sustained from their match against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which allowed Maliwat to shine as he registered eight points, five rebounds, and five assists in the absence of his star teammate.
"'Yung confidence kasi lagi lang naman nandyan eh. Lagi rin ako sinasabihin nina Kuya Paeng, always [be] ready lang pag binunot sa bench. Kasi, 'yun nga, lagi silang napapagod pagdating ng fourth kaya dapat pag binunot kami, laging 100% kami," said Maliwat.
[The confidence is always there. Kuya Paeng always tells me, always be ready when you get called from the bench. Because they always get tired in the fourth quarter so when we're called, we have to be 100%.]
Maliwat was also aware of his role in the absence of the San Sebastian star.
"Para sa akin kasi, kailangan lahat nakakahawak [ng bola] talaga. Kailangan lahat nagkakaroon ng kumpiyansa kasi hindi lang pwedeng isa lang 'yung gumagawa, dalawa. Kasi maubos, maubos talaga eh. Kaya dapat lahat sa team nakakagawa talaga tsaka nakakapag-contribute," he added.
[For me, everyone has to touch the ball. Everyone needs to have the confidence because it can't be only one or two guys who contribute. Because they'll run out and so everyone on the team should be able to contribute.]
The 20-year old Maliwat, a product of the University of Santo Tomas high school program, underwent residency last year for the Stags.
A cousin of basketball star CJ Cansino, Maliwat said he chose to play for San Sebastian to get more minutes as well.
"Nalipat ako ng San Sebastian last year nung lumipat sina Coach Bonnie [Garcia] sa Baste. Tapos, na-recruit nila ako kasi na-Team B ako sa UST. Kaya, mas pinili ko na lumipat ng Baste para magkaroon ng chance makalaro," Maliwat narrated.
[I transferred to San Sebastian last year when Coach Bonnie moved. They recruited me because I was on Team B at UST. So I chose to transfer to Baste to get the chance to play.]
Are, meanwhile, gave his stamp of approval to Maliwat.
"Kinausap ko siya na mag-ready siya and mag-step up siya. Si Maliwat, facilitator talaga 'yan, wala lang talagang kumpiyansa. Nung nabigyan ng kumpiyansa, nag-perform nang maayos."
[I told him to be ready and to step up. Maliwat is really a facilitator, he just doesn't have the confidence. When he got it, he performed well.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
