RABEH Al-Hussaini announced his return to the Blackwater lineup by effectively helping the team snap a four-game skid in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The veteran big man contributed 11 big points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in a 106-100 victory over Columbian Dyip Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Al-Hussaini said he is ‘happy to be back’ and grateful to Blackwater management and the coaching staff for giving him another chance.
The former UAAP MVP from Ateneo went on AWOL (Absence Without Leave) during the offseason, forcing management to put him under suspension.
Al-Hussaini was recalled to active duty during the Elite’s game against Alaska before finally playing his first game of the season against the Dyip.
“I guess yung approach ko lang sa game is more different than it used to be nung bago ako mawala. Yung preparation ko rin bago ako mawala tsaka yung ngayon, sobrang iniba ko rin lahat,” he said.
“I guess yung mga small changes na yun, nakatulong din sa akin kaya kahit paano maayos yung ipinakita ko.”
The 30-year-old center admitted he went through some personal problem in his life which he had to take care first.
Now he’s using that experience as a motivation in his comeback bid.
“It’s just a matter of overcoming whatever problems that I had, and have a different mind set,” he stressed.
“Little by little, the goal is to stay, the goal is to prolong the career,” Al-Hussaini added. “Lesson learned sa kin yung absence ko. It taught me a lot about life. It’s really personal for me.”
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