RALPH Cu seemed like he wanted a quiet celebration as he turned a year older a day before Barangay Ginebra faced Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday.
“He tried to sneak by the whole team and didn’t want to let anybody know it was his birthday. But he got caught, so he’s in trouble with the team right now. He’s got to buy some pizza or something,” Gin Kings coach Tim Cone said.
Cu goes under the radar
It turns out Cu also went under the radar on the Fuel Masters’ scouting report.
“I noticed their defense; they were giving me the shot. They wanted me to shoot the ball, so I just wanted to let them pay and I think that would help the team,” Cu said. “That would open up the other guys once I hit those shots.”
And the rookie forward definitely earned the opponent’s respect after a torrid shooting from beyond the arc, hitting three of his four treys in the third quarter where the Gin Kings pulled away en route to a 102-92 win.
“I think nobody really knows Ralph all that much, but we see him in practice every day, so we’re very comfortable when he takes shots,” Cone said.
Cu made the most of another starting gig as he finished with 12 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting alongside two boards, one assist, one steal, and one block in less than 19 minutes.
Cu grateful for the opportunity
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity. I think this is the most opportunity I’ve had my whole life. Even in college, I was a bench player,” the former La Salle forward said.
“So I just want to make the most out of the opportunities that are given to me. Hopefully I can be more consistent,” he added.
Make no mistake, celebrating his birthday has little to do with how he has turned heads so far in his freshman year.
“It’s very overwhelming, but I trust my work and I just want to be able to help the team in whatever way I can,” Cu said.
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