ON the eve of the opening of Season 78 of the UAAP, Gelo Vito kept wondering what his role with University of the Philippines is going to be.
He quickly found the answer less than 24 hours later.
“Siya yung biglang hugot,” said rookie coach Rensy Bajar of the sophomore big man, whom he instinctively dispatched from the bench in the final quarter and instantly delivered in the Fighting Maroons’ 62-55 win over University of the East Saturday during the opener of the league at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Yesterday (Friday) he was asking me, ‘coach what’s my role in the team?’”
“I told him just relax and be ready to play,” added Bajar.
Vito indeed, was ready.
The former La Salle Greenhills junior player scored nine of the Maroon’s 11-2 run in the final quarter, capped by going 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
His offensive explosion allowed the team to stretch a slim 45-41 count to 56-43 midway in the period.
“The good thing is he's ready to play and nagde-deliver. Ang IQ niya napakataas kaya isa siya sa mga inaasahan ko,” said Bajar of Vito.
The UP player shrugged off his heroics, saying he's just following the orders from Bajar.
“Sabi ni coach 'when you're open take the shot.' Lckily pumapasok 'yung mga tira ko,” he said.
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