DON'T expect another 49-point explosion from Alvin Pasaol anytime soon.
Although proud of what he accomplished last year, the prolific forward knows that University of the East needs him to be more of a leader than a scorer in Season 81 of the UAAP men's basketball championship.
“Sobrang laki ng adjustment na ginawa ko sa sarili ko. I became a scorer last season pero sinasabi nga ni coach Joe (Silva) sa akin na kailangan ko i-distribute yung bola kasi marked man na ako sa lahat ng ibang teams,” he said.
Pasaol was certainly the guy for the Red Warriors last season, averaging 20.6 points and 7.1 rebounds to earn a place in the Mythical Team.
But with the changes undertaken after Joe Silva took over from Derrick Pumaren, Pasaol has taken the initiative to buy in to the new system.
“As a leader nga, kailangan mong i-guide yung team mo at sabihan mo sila kung ano yung mga mali nila. Ako naman yun din yung gusto kong ma-achieve sa sarili ko as a leader,” he said.
Pasaol has never made it to the Final Four in his first three years in the UAAP, but something tells him that this year’s gonna be different.
“Lahat kami sobrang eager at mas gutom pumasok ng Final Four para mapatunayan namin sa sarili namin na kaya namin manalo, para rin mapatunayan namin sa UE community na kaya naming manalo at kaya naming ibuhos lahat,” he said.
This early, there is already a marked difference in the way the UE team is being run as well as in the relationships between player and coach.
“Si Manong kasi sa amin dati, sobrang naging tatay siya. Alam ng lahat ng tao yun kung gaano ako inalagaan ni Manong,” Pasaol explained.
"Ngayon with coach Joe, para lang kaming magkakapatid. Hindi naman siya masyadong ganoong katanda kaya parang tropa lang namin si coach Joe. Parang mas new generation yung ginagawa namin kay coach Joe.”
Pasaol is leading by example.
“Mas upgraded na Alvin yung lalaro ngayon na as a leader, not as scorer.”
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