Manuel provides spark for Alaska anew
LUCENA CITY – Struggling to get his game going for the first three quarters, Vic Manuel trusted his coaches’ advice.
And he repaid their faith with another phenomenal performance.
“Sinabi lang sa akin nila coach at ng mga assistants na pagbalik ko sa court, makukuha ko rin yung laro ko,” he said, after only having six points and five rebounds in foul-plagued three quarters.
Waiting for the right time to strike, coach Alex Compton patiently held Manuel up until the start of the fourth quarter. And with 12 minutes away from a chance to go 3-0 in the best-of-7 series of the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup, Manuel did his damage and did not let the opportunity slip away.
At the 9:32 mark of the final frame, the hardworking forward took an elbow from JayR Reyes on a rebound play.
That exchange proved to be the turning point of the game as Manuel uncorked seven straight points and help Alaska snatch an 82-75 victory over San Miguel. He finished with 17 points, 11 of which coming in the payoff period, to go with seven rebounds.
“Nung pagka-shoot nung fourth quarter, umpisa nun, sabi ko tuloy-tuloy na ito,” said Manuel, as he provided the spark anew for the Aces.
With a sweep looming, Manuel, seemingly borrowing a page out of Compton’s book, still refuses to acknowledge that the series could be over: “Di ko pa rin masasabi.”
“Hangga’t di namin nakukuha yung championship, di namin masasabi. Pag champion na kami, dun pa lang namin masasabi na tapos na,” he said.
Manuel also said that regardless of June Mar Fajardo’s status for Game 4, Alaska will remain determined to finish it off.
“Yung ginagawa namin, kahit andyan si June Mar o wala, iisa lang ang preparation namin sa kanila. Talagang laro lang kami,” he said, failing to hide his excitement from a possible coronation at Philsports Arena two days later.
“Ibibigay lang namin yung best namin para manalo kami.”
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