BEING outside the limelight doesn’t mean James Payosing has relaxed for San Beda University.
It took the NCAA Season 99 Finals MVP nine games to break out with a season-high 15 points and seven rebounds during a rival’s faceoff against Mapua, after an underwhelming start to Season 100, with an average of 6.5 points per game.
READ: Hard work pays off for NCAA Finals MVP James Payosing
While he admitted he’s had a hard time finding his rhythm, Payosing insists he's not being complacent after a starmaking performance in their previous championship run.
In fact, the junior cager was ‘forced to mature,’ now taking on a bigger leadership role after the team lost instrumental pieces during the offseason.
“I stayed, and the good thing about it is it helped me mature, I had to step up and be a kuya, good thing andyan sila Yuki [Andrada], Jomel [Puno], nagtulungan kaming mga natira, and now we’re here, lumalaban kami,” he told SPIN.ph.
Payosing shared that one of the things they built in their culture is being critical of themselves.
“Key namin is we call each other out, real talk, kung may nagsstruggle na player, kung may role na hindi nasusunod, sinasabihan namin ang isa’t isa, kasi buo kami, harapan mismo, walang sasama ang loob,” he said.
Leading a young team, he also takes the initiative to plan off-court bonding to establish camaraderie, more so, he takes the time to talk to his teammates one-on-one.
“Kaming mga seniors, bumubuo kami ng mga bond ng team, mga hang out, and minemake sure namin na we’ll have team dinners talaga,” he said. “Ako, ang lagi ko lang sinasabi sakanila, kumpyansa sa sarili and nakukuha yun sa training pa lang, pag may preparation, may resultang lalabas.”
With San Beda now at second seed after the first round Payosing is hopeful that things are only going to get better for them.
“Nakita ko naman na ‘yung mga umalis, and ‘yung mga bagong pumasok, same ang potential, ang kailangan na lang is makasunod or makasakay sa sistema namin, tutulungan namin isa’t isa," he said.
"Tiwala sa sistema kasi ito naman ang ginamit naming nung nag-champion kami, proven na ‘to,” he added.
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