ALMEL Orquina hardly looked like he was coming off a flu as the Mapua sniper shot the lights out to become the new NCAA All-Star Three-Point Shootout king on Friday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Sharp as ever, the Cardinals hotshot dropped 15 points in the final round to beat Perpetual's Jack Hao, who struggled after an impressive opening salvo.
"Sabi ko lang sa sarili ko, magfocus ako. Sa isip ko mageenjoy lang ako kasi first time ko to," said Orquina, who only returned to practice early Friday.
"Medyo nanlalambot pa ako pero nakakarecover na rin."
Such plum was special to Orquina, whose team has struggled in the first round of hostilities with a 1-8 record.
"Sa akin, sobrang importante nito kasi NCAA ito eh. Ang sama na ng laro namin, kahit paano, makabawi dito," he said.
Orquina and Hao shone in the opening round, scoring 18 points apiece to advance to the finale and dethrone AC Soberano of San Beda who only tallied 14 points.
Other participants in the event were RK Ilagan of San Sebastian, Arellano's Brylle Meca, Benilde's Matt Johnson, Emilio Aguinaldo College's Sidney Onwubere, Letran's Jerrick Balanza, and Lyceum's Spencer Pretta.
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