“NA-CHA-CHALLENGE KAMI” – BUENAFE
With the game tied at 93, Ronjay Buenafe got the ball in the perimeter, drove to the baseline and rose up for a shot against JVee Casio and the outstretched arms of Gabby Espinas.
Buenafe, already with nine points for the fourth quarter across his name, flicked off a shot which miraculously found the bottom of the net with 33.7 ticks to play. The scoreboard read 95-93 for Barako Bull.
The basket was Ronjay’s his 26th and 27th points for the game, the highest in this toughly-contested battle, which proved to be the game-clincher for the Barako Bull Energy.
“Meron akong lane kaya kinuha ko na. Nakita ko yung defender but I tried to get a shot, and luckily, shumoot yung tira ko,” he said.
The shot could possibly be a reflection on how the former EAC General powered Barako Bull to a 97-93 win over Alaska Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Buenafe scorching from all over the field all game long. He also had a whopping 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the rainbow country.
“Siguro lumabas na lang game ko naturally. Wino-work out naman namin yun sa practice kasi yun yung trabaho ko eh,” he said. “Nag-focus lang kami sa defense.”
His coach Bong Ramos had some choice words for his scoring guard, saying, “Ronjay is really capable of scoring 20-plus points. He’s really hot especially nung start ng game.”
“I’m happy because the players responded with the adjustments during the game. Basketball ito. It’s a game of adjustments,” he added.
It could be a surprise for many that this early, Barako Bull, controversial for their off-season moves, is at the top of the standings, undefeated in their first two games, but for Buenafe, it’s a statement that their team wanted to show, that despite their critics, they can still stand toe-to-toe with the bests of Philippine basketball.
“Gusto naming i-prove na kaya naming manalo. Puro veterans yung teammates ko dito, so alam na namin i-handle yung mga situation,” he said.
Buenafe adds, “Sobrang gusto ko yung ganitong set-up. Nacha-challenge kami kasi maraming rookies at gusto naming ipakita na pwede rin kami dyan at may ibubuga din kami.” (RLeongson)
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