MANILA, Philippines – University of the East’s Alvin Pasaol almost scored 50 points over defending champions De La Salle University last Wednesday.
And he did that with a hurt ankle.
Rewriting a 15-year-old UAAP record for local cagers, Pasaol is hands down the Chooks-to-Go UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week.
But even with the spotlight beaming brightly over him, the 21-year-old cager said he was simply giving what his mentor and team asked of him.
Pasaol registered 49 points on a 20-for-30 shooting clip in a 100-106 stand against powerhouse Green Archers.
“Nilaro ko lang 'yung talagang best ko na hinihingi ni [Coach Derrick Pumaren] sa akin,” Pasaol said. “Nag-stick lang talaga (ako) sa game plan namin. Salamat din sa mga teammates ko kasi hindi ko naman makukuha 'yung 49 points kung [hindi dahil sa kanila].”
The Davao native is the first Filipino to breach the 40-point barrier in a game in over a decade. Jeff Napa, who is now Letran College’s head coach, once scored 43 on August 22, 2002.
Pasaol, who beat Matt Nieto of Ateneo, Jerrick Ahanmisi of Adamson and Ben Mbala of La Salle for the weekly plum, also furthered his legend in UE's basketball lore after besting Allan Caidic and James Yap’s personal bests of 46 and 36 points.
"Alvin is different compared to (Jun) Limpot, Allan (Caidic) [na] nahawakan ko sa amateur. Alvin is like akala mo, hindi nya alam yung play, parang hindi nakikinig pero once you start the play, he knows it,” Pumaren said of his ward.
"First time ata that I’ve coached a local that scored 49. Kasi dati import lang ang nakaka-score [ng ganoon ka taas] pero ngayon, he really gave us a show,” he continued.
Pasaol would ride on the momentum of the Wednesday’s close affair with the Green Archers and register 32 points just this Sunday to will UE past UST, leaving the Growling Tigers the only winless team after the UAAP’s first round hostilities.
The stocky forward is currently norming 22.4 points a game. He’s also averaging 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per outing.