BY John Miles Arcenal
ARELLANO'S T-Mc Ongotan has been the heart of the Chiefs’ campaign so far in NCAA Season 101, but as the spotlight grows brighter, so does defensive attention on the rising star.
Fresh off a 28-point explosion against Benilde and a triple-double outing over Lyceum last week - performances that earned him the Collegiate Press Corps Player of the Week - Ongotan found himself the main target of San Beda’s defense in their 76-53 loss on Friday.
“Nagulat din ako, pero ginagawa ko ‘yung best ko para makatulong din ako sa team,” he admitted, as he finished with 14 points, three rebounds, and a block.
“Inaantay ko rin ‘yung mga teammates ko na mag-step up, sasaluhin ako kasi ‘yung defense nila sa’kin, kumbaga, every galaw, nandoon agad sila. Sadyang kinapos lang din talaga kami, hindi rin pumasok ‘yung mga tira namin.”
Even dealing with a sprained ankle he suffered against EAC, Ongotan remains unshaken in his commitment to play through pain and lead by example.
“Parang sa akin, every game, wala nang bukas, wala nang pagkakataon. Every game, ibigay ko na lahat. Wala na akong pakialam sa katawan ko, basta laro lang ako para manalo,” he told SPIN.ph.
And that same fire and desire, he hopes, will rub off on his teammates, especially heading into the stretch run of the season.
“Sabi ko sa kanila na every game, kailangan natin manalo, isipin natin na wala nang bukas, wala nang chance. Kaya ‘yun, parang ‘yung mga teammates ko, mas lalo pang nagiging gutom sa panalo,” the Sorsogon native said.
T-Mc's team
Despite the loss, the 5-foot-9 guard continues to embrace his role not just as a scorer, but as tone-setter for Arellano.
“Masaya ako dahil nagbubunga din ‘yung mga sakripisyong pagtatrabaho ko para sa team namin. At nagpapasalamat ako sa mga teammates at coaches ko sa tiwalang binibigay nila sa akin,” he stressed.
Despite the setback, Ongotan kept his composure and echoed his coach Chico Manabat's call for a short memory.
As he put it, referring to their face-off with the red-hot Knights on Sunday, “Sabi nga ni coach na nangyari na, tapos na. Next game na kami. Kumbaga, kinalimutan na namin ‘tong game na ‘to, focus na kami sa Letran.”
“Bukas mag-eensayo kami, mas dadagdagan pa namin ‘yung preparation namin kasi halos pareho lang naman ‘yung playing style ng Letran and Beda.”
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