GLENN Khobuntin insisted he was simply making the most of the opportunity presented to him as he shone brightest for KIA in its breakthrough 98-94 win over Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday night.
The third-year forward made a rousing return from a one-game absence due to a minor foot injury as he came through in the clutch by scoring the team’s last six points, four in back-to-back plays, the second on a tough fadeaway jumper off the spin that put his team up, 96-89, with a little less than two minutes to go.
“Syempre kinakabahan ako kasi two minutes pa rin yun eh tapos Rain or Shine yung kalaban namin,” Khobuntin admitted.
True enough, the E-Painters scored the next five points to nudge to within two points, before Khobuntin scored on a fastbreak layup off a Mark Yee jumpball tip that sealed the deal.
KIA coach Ricky Dandan made a timely call-up of Khobuntin, who didn’t play in the first half before starting after intermission and finishing with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three boards, and two assists in 15 minutes.
“Hindi ko rin masabi kasi ang ganda ng nilalaro ng mga binunot ni coach Ricky noong first half,” Khobuntin said. “Talagang dikit-dikit yung points, four points lang yung lamang nila eh yung pagbunot niya sa akin, nagdecide siya na ako yung istart niya so thankful ako kasi nagtiwala siya sa akin.”
“Hindi lang din naman ako eh, kami ring lahat eh,” he added. “Siguro kumbaga nagkaopportunity lang, napunta sa akin yung bola kasi yun yung nasa scheme ng play so ayun, thankful lang ako nahit ko yung mga nadesign na plays.”
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