XYRUS Torres did it on both ends of the floor Saturday night in NLEX’s huge 109-95 win over Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The rookie shooting guard scored a season-high 28 points on a near-perfect 11-of-12 shooting from the playing floor of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
He was 5-of-6 from three-point range and spot=on 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
READ: Xyrus Torres breakout game propels NLEX to first PH Cup win
All of these he did while taking the challenge of locking down the high-scoring Rain or Shine guard Adrian Nocum on the defensive end.
Nocum was held to just 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting, not exactly the kind of game from a player that serves as the barometer for Rain or Shine.
But that’s exactly what coach Jong Uichico wanted from Torres more than the scoring help he provided in the Road Warriors’ first win in the conference.
“Sabi nga sa akin ni coach Jong, mawala na ako sa opensa, pero yung defensive minded[-ness] ko kahit kaunting segundo lang, hindi ako puwedeng mawala,” said the rookie from Far Eastern University.
“First of all, kaya dinala nila ako sa ganitong sitwasyon kasi gusto nila yung defensive presence ko nandun talaga. And nag-stick lang kami talaga sa game plan against Rain or Shine.
Uichico admitted the Road Warriors could have caught Nocum in his off night, especially with the Elasto Painters playing their first game in the conference after almost a month-long break coming from their campaign in the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
But he did give Torres the credit for holding his own against the high-scoring guard from Mapua on the defensive end.
“Maganda rin naman yung depensa ni Xy sa kanya (Nocum), kasi naka-mindset siya (Xy) kay Nocum. He really put his mind into defending Nocum kasi challenge yun sa kanya. Sabi ko ang galing ni Nocum talaga. Mahirap siyang hintuin kasi ang bilis, ang daming galaw, and baka kako ma-challenge lang si Xy.”
Torres indeed, was challenged and rose to the occasion.
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