BY ADRIANN ANCHETA
GROWING into a leadership role usually takes time but in the case of Shawn Argente, he needed to get accustomed to it quickly.
His recent explosion couldn’t have come at a better time for Jose Rizal University.
The second-year guard powered the Heavy Bombers’ break away, giving them enough buffer to hold off the Arellano Chiefs, 92-89, last Wednesday in the NCAA Season 100 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
READ: JRU survives late Arellano comeback to take crucial NCAA 100 win
Argente dropped 20 in the win, including eight in the crucial stretch as JRU held on to the win after multiple heartbreaks.
“Kasi lagi kaming bumibitaw sa end game eh, siguro ngayong game is mas tumatag kami ngayong end game kaya nakuha namin yung panalo,” Argente said.
“Para sa akin naman ano, always ready naman ako. Ayun nga ginagawa ko naman lahat para makatulong sa team. Para sa akin naman, kung sino man yung leader basta lahat makatulong.”
JRU's new identity
While there is still much to learn for Argente, his fast-tracked maturity would be an asset for the Heavy Bombers as they look to traverse one hard season following the departure of several key cogs like JL Delos Santos, Agem Miranda, Ry dela Rosa and John Amores.
“Medyo nafafast track yung kanyang maturity [kahit] mahaba pa yung lalaruin sa’kin ni Shawn. Pero yeah, ako naman sinasabi ko sa kanya yung laro niya hindi na pangbata dahil sa galing niya,“ Gonzales stated.
“Kailangan [lang mag-improve] yung decision-making niya. Ayun yung kailangan niyang mai-improve especially talagang ayun nga ‘who’s the main character of this team?’ I think ito, it will be Shawn, it will be Joshua, kasama na si Medina diyan.”
But Gonzales isn’t really surprised with how Argente is stepping up, as he expects a lot from this young crew even before the season began.
“Last year yung naglalaro ng endgame wala na silang lahat eh so they’re new to the role. Ako, hindi ko naman pinaparealize sa kanila yun kasi malaki naman tiwala ko sa mga players ko na they’re built for that already.” Gonzales said.
“Kailangan ready sila, alam naman nilang gagamitin ko sila eh. If you notice naman how deep I go to my bench kasi talagang ganon namin binuo eh since January. Everyone, everybody will be given minutes to play.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
