By LEE BENJAMIN
Evan Nelle emerged victorious on the grand stage once again, securing the UAAP Season 86 championship with De La Salle after a compelling three-game series against the top-seeded University of the Philippines.
Unlike his initial college championship with San Beda University in NCAA Season 94, where he spent more time on the bench, the 5-foot-10 playmaker admits feeling a different high after playing a pivotal role for the Green Archers.
“Yeah, I won during my rookie year, but ‘di ako gamit,” said Nelle. “This time, I’m part of it talaga. It’s much more fulfilling knowing na you contributed in any way you can.”
Hard work paid off for Nelle who averaged 7.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 2.3 steals in the entire season.
“It’s vindication. It’s a testament to the work I put in. It’s much better when you’re on the court, eh,” he said.
In stark contrast to his maiden triumph in Mendiola, where he felt underutilized, this championship holds greater fulfillment for him, more so after all the adversity, both personal and team-oriented, he had to overcome in his career.
The first one came in NCAA Season 95, where he was outplayed by Finals MVP Fran Yu in San Beda's loss to Letran in the finals.
After transfering to De La Salle, he and teammate Justine Baltazar experienced disappointment in UAAP Season 84, falling short in the Final Four and witnessing UP clinch a long-overdue championship.
Season 85 saw Nelle asserting that La Salle was the "best team" in the UAAP field, only to miss the playoffs.
As Season 86 approached, talks went around about the 24-year-old's perceived inability to win the big games, often labeled as lacking in clutch performances.
However, Nelle dismantled this narrative in the championship round, outperforming UP's guards on both ends of the court. While he may not have hit the decisive shots, he executed crucial plays and made the right decisions on the floor.
Addressing his critics, Nelle exclaimed, "Where are they now?! What can they say now?! We won! It wasn't a pretty game, but (we) still won! They should call me champ!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, he expressed, "Nakakaiyak, bro! That's all I can say. My last UAAP game, my last collegiate game, we won. Damn."
Known for his confident demeanor, Nelle now boasts the bragging rights to support his bold declarations.
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