PATRICK Sleat shared that he was so excited to debut for Perpetual Help in the NCAA Season 101, and he certainly played like it — opening like a house on fire, draining threes, converting and-ones and creating for his teammates as the Altas opened a double-digit lead early in the game against San Sebastian.
“Sobrang excited ko talaga, aga ko natulog kagabi, talagang can’t wait to just wake up and go play,” he said.
Well, maybe he got a little too excited.
The transferee out of FEU got his third personal foul midway through the first quarter and didn’t see action until the second half.
Luckily for the Altas, his instant impact in the first quarter when he scored eight quick points was all they needed as it set the tone for a 67-54 wire-to-wire win over the Stags on Friday at the Playtime Filoil Center.
READ: Patrick Sleat shoots Perpetual to strong start in NCAA Season 101
“May gigil talaga e. Pero hopefully next game i-tame down natin para maging mas-okay yung outcome," he said. “Kailangan ko pan mag-control ng emotions next game para mas maging composed pa sa laro.”
Sleat played for only 21 minutes in the game and finished with 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and a steal – still a solid debut all things considered as a veteran presence in this young Perpetual side.
The Fil-Australian forward shared that having to sit out for an entire year may have played a role in his overeagerness but he’s nonetheless happy to get a winning start in his NCAA career.
“Actually yung atmosphere ngayon nabigla ako e, halos one year ako nag intay e, tapos pag dating ko kanina narinig ko yung drums, yung college spirit naramdaman ko ulit,” he said.
“Sa game naman, sa team, wala naman akong adjustment na ginawa kasi very welcoming yung mga teammates ko binibigyan nila ako ng confidence, kaya ako nagkakaron ng ganung klaseng confidence dahil binibigay nila sakin.”
With an all-too familiar coach in Olsen Racela, and a supportive group of young teammates pushing him on, Sleat is ready to embrace the role of being this team’s leader as they look to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2021.
“Yung role ko talaga sa team ngayon maging leader e,” he said.
“Gusto ni coach talaga na mag-lead ako but not just in scoring but gusto niya mag create ako para sa teammates, para yung buong team will start to create for each other kasi isa na ako mga matanda na nilolook up nila sa season na’to.”
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