IT took time, but the final piece of FEU-Diliman's title-winning team finally arrived on the collegiate scene.
After averages of just 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds through 11 games in UAAP Season 88, Luke Felipe delivered his best game yet in the Tamaraws' last eliminations assignment against University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday.
The first-year guard unloaded 15 points and two rebounds, swishing five of his six triples to help the green-and-gold give itself an outside chance at the Final Four.
Of course, just hours later, La Salle shut the playoff door for good with a triumph over archrival Ateneo.
Still, that coach Sean Chambers has yet another weapon in his ever-increasing arsenal is good news for Morayta, all the more with lead guard Janrey Pasaol set to be hailed as a pleasant surprise of an MVP.
READ: Pasaol poised to take home MVP as consolation prize for FEU
“Luke is one of the most talented kids I've seen at his age,” the PBA legend-turned-shot-caller declared of the onetime Baby Tamaraw he had dubbed 'Dynamite.'
“He's only gonna get better. He's still not quite 100-percent, but he's getting better and better. I wasn't surprised to see me in shock like that because he's capable.”
Felipe was one of the key pieces of the FEU-Diliman side that won it all in Season 85, where he averaged 12.24 points and 3.65 rebounds per game alongside Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, Jedric Daa, and Veejay Pre.
Unlike Pasaol, Mongcopa, and Pre who found their footing right away in the seniors, however, Felipe had to be a bit more patient with his transition - and a lot more determined to earn his spot in the rotation.
“Sakin lang, 'di ako masyado nag-shooting o nag-work out,” Felipe told SPIN.ph. "Parang nag-chill lang ako kasi akala ko kaya ko, pero nung mga past games na 'di ako maka-shoot, pinagtrabahuan ko talaga.”
“Pinagdiinan talaga ako ni coach Sean. Ok din naman kasi para rin naman sa akin yun.”
Felipe enters after the 'Pre-xit'
Chambers doubled down that Felipe wasn’t playing up to his level, and decided to impose mandatory extra shooting, so that the 6-foot-4 shooter would regain his touch.
“Literally the last month of the season, I've been making him stay after practice and shoot about 300 shots every practice. And I let him know that he's important for us moving forward,” the mentor added.
And as the Tamaraws went out with a bang, Chambers couldn't help but look ahead to the succeeding seasons with much optimism.
READ: FEU should be in Final Four next year, Chambers asserts
“We (have) just seen a vision of those young guys coming from the high school joining us. We have the whole roster coming back, basically. So, we're gonna keep doing what we're doing. We're going to continue to get better,” he said on the heels of their fifth-place finish.
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