EVEN though he is a veteran, Ian Sangalang said he didn’t take his match-up against Justine Baltazar lightly knowing how capable the Converge rookie is.
The Magnolia veteran had 18 points and nine rebounds in the Hotshots’ 83-71 win over the FiberXers on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum as he faced not only his fellow Kabalen Baltazar but also assistant coach Dennis Pineda, his benefactor dating back to his college days at San Sebastian.
READ Sangalang a headache for Pineda, Converge as Magnolia posts win No. 2
The 33-year-old Sangalang said he looked forward to playing against Baltazar, knowing how good a player that latter is even before entering the PBA at the start of this season.
“Nakaka-motivate din kasi alam naman natin ‘yung pinagdaanan ni Balti kung saan siya galing, sa mga past league na nilaruan niya. Sobrang nakakatuwa lang na nakakalaban ko siya. Dati pinapanood ko lang siya,” said Sangalang.
“Na-excite lang ako na makalaban siya. Gusto ko ma-feel sa game kung ano talagang meron siya. Masaya ako na nakalaban ko na siya,” said Sangalang.
Baltazar didn't do too badly with 11 points and 13 rebounds in a losing cause for the FiberXers. Sangalang said his play on Wednesday was exactly what he expected.
“Sa totoo lang, kailangan mo rin talaga ‘yun ‘yung respeto sa bata kasi grabe talaga maglaro ‘yun ngayon. Natutuwa ako na nandito na siya sa PBA,” he added.
Sangalang also had to deal with Justin Arana, who had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Converge.
Sangalang said even though they are younger, both the 26-year-old Arana and the 28-year-old Baltazar already play like veterans.
“The way they played, nirespeto ko sila. ‘Yung dalawang ‘yun, hindi na bata maglaro ‘yun. From the start, kailangang kong respetuhin ‘yung dalawa. Kung hindi mo rerespetuhin ‘yung dalawa, kakainin ka ng buong buo ‘yun kasi nakikita niyo naman sila kung paano sila maglaro sa past two games,” said Sangalang.
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