UNHERALDED EXCIMINIANO MAKES MOST OUT OF DEBUT
In his first game as a professional basketball player, Christopher “Ping” Exciminiano already showed what he can do.
Known as a lock-down defender during his college days at Far Eastern University and in the D-League, the 5-foot-11 guard gave a glimpse of the newest trick up his sleeves as he fired a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc to finish with 16 points to go with two boards and a steal in only 15 minutes on the floor against Air21 Wednesday.
“Pina-practice ko rin yung offense sa practice. Sabi nga ng teammates ko, di lang puro defense, dapat maging threat ka rin kaya thankful ako na napakita ko ngayon yung pinapractice ko,” he said. “Andito ka na eh, nakaangat ka na sa pro kaya kailangan maging threat ka na.”
The 18th pick in the 2013 Rookie Draft was only activated before their game against Air21, and this early, coach Luigi Trillo has only good words for his gritty defender.
“Ping was great. He came in and he changed the game for us,” he said. “Kulang kami sa energy and he gave us a lift. Guys were down and the energy wasn’t there. It seems like one of those nights that we’re gonna lose big and he came in and made all of his shots from three.”
This was not the first time Trillo has handled Exciminiano, as the latter was a part of the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in the PBA D-League. And Exciminiano is ready to reward his coach for the trust he is giving to him.
“Iko-continue ko lang yung binibigay sa akin ni coach Luigi kung ano yung role ko sa depensa. Pag may opportunity na tumira, titira at titira ako,” he said.
Also, an added motivation for Exciminiano is his wife who is about to give birth to their first child in two weeks time.
“Sakto pa yung pagkakabunot sa akin sa reserves kasi buntis yung asawa ko,” he said. “Sabi ko ito na yung chance ko. Ipapakita ko yung best ko talaga.” (RLeongson)
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