“We’ll take anything at this point,” said San Mig Super Coffee coach Tim Cone after the Coffee Mixers gutted out a 92-83 double-overtime win to tally their first win of the season.
Winless in their first three games, San Mig badly needed the victory, and the big reason for the win was none other than their rookie Ian Sangalang.
The 6-foot-6 frontliner was pivotal in the second overtime, as he ran roughshod on Air21’s big men after Asi Taulava fouled out at the start of the second extra period. Sangalang converted eight points in the final five minutes of the game, and finished with 14 markers, six rebounds, and a couple of blocks in 27 minutes of play.
“Rafi (Reavis) was getting tired, and fortunately Asi fouled out. So that kind of left the middle open for us and Ian just dominated the inside from that point,” Cone said. “He got some pick-and-rolls and got some offensive rebounds. He still got a lot of growing pains.”
“Ian took a big first step today in terms of playing with confidence, picking the right spots, and finishing shots,” the multi-titled mentor added.
For Sangalang, it’s just his way of bouncing back.
“Bumawi lang ako dun sa mga pagkakamali ko nung first half. Medyo nawala ako sa game, kaya nung pagbalik ko, wala akong pressure sa game, sabi ko babawi ako at kaya ko to,” said the second overall pick in the last Rookie Draft.
And it was a much-needed sigh of relief for the Pampanga native as he finally chalked one in the win column in his young professional career.
“Sobrang sarap. Di ko maexplain kung gaano ako kasaya. First win ko sa PBA, double overtime pa, magandang laban. Sobrang saya at natutuwa ako sa nangyari,” he said. “Kahit andun si Asi, di ko iniisip na di ko kaya. Nung nawala sya, nagkaroon pa ko ng kumpyansa kasi wala nang malaki.”
The extended playing time the rookies are experiencing can largely be attributed to the injuries of some key players, a fact that was bared by coach Tim Cone himself. Though their paltry 1-3 record still doesn’t look like something Cone can be proud of, he believes that in due time, given that their rookies get fully acquainted to his system, their Philippine Cup campaign can still be salvaged.
“The rookies are still finding their way and finding their place on the floor,” Cone said. “But we just have to believe that those will smooth out eventually.” (RLeongson)
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