RAYMAR Jose refused to get intimidated by one of the PBA’s toughest players as he held his own against Beau Belga in Blackwater’s 92-87 win over Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday night.
To no one's surprise, the rookie Jose encountered some taunting from Belga after the veteran enforcer blocked one shot of the Blackwater greenhorn in one play.
That only lit a fire under the Gilas Pilipinas mainstay.
“Sabi niya sa akin nung napalpal niya ko, 'Bata mo pa, boy!'” Jose recounted. “Na-challenge ako nung sinabi sa akin ng isang kuya ko yun dahil baguhan pa ako dito.”
“Parang nagdagdagan pa yung kumpiyansa ko na lumaban pa,” he added. “Kumbaga tine-test lang nila ako.”
Jose sustained the momentum of his solid debut last week as he registered 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, eight rebounds, and just only turnover in 20 minutes as a starter – without getting frustrated by Belga.
“Okay naman kasi napapalaban ako tapos pisikal pa laro nila,” Jose said. “Kailangan ko ma-experience yung mga ganiyang pisikal na laro para mag-mature pa ako as a player.”
“Siyempre sanay na ako sa ganung laro,” he added. “Hinahanda ko lang sarili ko lagi na mangyayari yun dito. Thankful lang ako na nakakalaban ko sila.”
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