CHICAGO - Like flowers that often bloom late, so do some pro basketball careers.
And that appears to be the case with Phoenix Super LPG gunner Francis Escandor, a big piece of the La Salle Green Archers’ UAAP Season 86 title run.
After a quiet stint with Rain or Shine and a so-so start at his current team, the 13th overall pick of the 2024 PBA Rookie Draft has broken through.
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His official welcome party came Wednesday night at the Ynares Center where Phoenix engulfed Terrafirma, 133-105.
The 6-foot-3 wing with a sweet stroke, erupted for 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting with three made 3s.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao isn’t surprised by the emergence.
“Francis is a deadshot who you cannot leave wide open. Works hard on his game and only needed extended minutes to gain confidence.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t provide him these minutes at RoS because of our loaded wing rotation. He is showing his true worth with the opportunity provided to him by coach Charles Tiu,” Guiao said.
Indeed, before coach Tiu revamped the roster last January, Escandor saw action in only six Philippine Cup games where he averaged just 2.3,points with a scant playing time of 6:32 minutes per.
DIFFERENCE-MAKER.
He is now an integral part of the rotation, churning in meaningful minutes (27 per), and rewarding the coaching staff’s trust.
From benchwarmer to live wire who can get hot quicker than a microwave.
“It feels really good. I haven’t played the way I wanted to the first few games but after this game I believe it’s a great sign that the hard work that me and my team have been doing is slowly paying off,” Escandor told me via text message..
Escandor credits Tiu and his assistants and their past collaboration at Strong Group Athletics (SGA) as a vital component to his improved play.
“He gives the whole team opportunity and freedom to play our game and I thinks its bringing the best out of everyone.”
No surprise there.
Player development had always been one of Tiu’s strongest suits, producing two MVPs at CSB Benilde — Will Gozum and Allen Liwag — while turning the Blazers into a powerhouse NCAA program.
At 3-1 in the ongoing PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup, the Fuelmasters are rising.
Just like the stock of Francis Escandor.
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