What difference could a year make? For Jericho Crisitino, it made all the difference.
In NCAA Season 99, Jericho Cristino barely averaged a point in his rookie campaign with the Perpetual Junior ALTAs. Fast forward to Season 100, and the once-overlooked versatile forward has emerged as a key contributor for the Las Piñas school.
Perpetual head coach Joph Cleopas shared he is one of the believers of the 19-year-old Cristino, who put up 1.38 points, 0.63 rebounds, and 0.13 assists in just a total of 19 minutes playing time for the Junior ALTAs last year.
Cleopas, however, stressed that the depth of his previous lineup forced Cristino to ride the bench most of the time with the likes of reigning MVP Amiel Acido, Mark Gojo Cruz, Lebron Jhames Daep, and JD Pagulayan getting loaded minutes.
But the exit of several of their stars set the stage for the Crisitino uprising.
"Si Cristino kaya nandito sa team ‘yan kasi I really believe in him since last season. It just so happened na medyo malalim ‘yung roster namin kasi nandiyan si Acido, si Gojo [Cruz]," Cleopas told GMA News Online on Friday.
The young workhorse is now averaging 10.36 markers, 4.73 boards, 1.36 dimes, 0.91 steals, and 0.36 blocks to emerge as their fourth top scorer behind Daep, Jan Roluna, and Pagulayan.
He also had a huge game on Friday in Game 1 of the finals against La Salle Green Hills, the high school team of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, collecting 14 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal to help steer the Junior ALTAs to a narrow 100-96 win.
"But this is his time now. Nakikita n'yo ngayon pinapatunayan niya ‘yon," Cleopas added.
Game 2 of the Finals will be played on Sunday, 2:30 p.m., at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
