HEADING into UAAP Season 89, host Far Eastern University will be fielding not one, but two MVPs on its roster.
With juniors MVP Cabs Cabonilas moving up to join seniors MVP Janrey Pasaol, the do-it-all forward has a heap of expectations going from a boys' basketball championship to their playoff-seeking men's squad.
To help with those expectations, it seems that a different role is in the offing for Cabonilas: a transition from the paint to the perimeter.
A preview of Cabonilas at the small forward position was on full display in their first Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup match, where the Digos native dropped nine points and nine rebounds in a win against Gilas Pilipinas Youth.
“A lot of the high school season, he played with his back to the basket, the number 4 position,” said head coach Sean Chambers. “So today, he was purely the 3. And I feel that's gonna take him to the next level.”
READ: Cabonilas draws Meneses, Duremdes comparisons from coach Chambers
While his averages of 15.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks in his MVP and Finals MVP campaign did come from primarily feasting close to the basket, the 6-foot-5 talent is nonetheless eagerly embracing this new role, especially since it slots him right into a fine five alongside Pasaol, Mo Konateh, Kirby Mongcopa, and Jorick Bautista.
As Cabonilas explained, “Nag-adjust lang ako sa play namin, yung mga pinapagawa ni coach Sean. Kung ano man pinapagawa niya, nile-learn lang namin.”
“Ok lang naman kasi gagawin ko lang yung karapat-dapat sa'kin. Gagawin ko lang naman yung best ko, sisipagan ko lang.“
Feels like home
It also doesn't hurt that one of the benefits of staying home meant a reunion with the kuyas he once shared the court with in Diliman — the same players who are now doing their due diligence in helping him and Marc Burgos to adapt.
“Actually, tinuruan kami ni Janrey. Tinutulungan kami nila Marc kasi hindi pa gaano kapulido yung play namin. Nag-a-adjust pa kami," he said.
"Kaya trust lang kami sa mga teammates ko 'tsaka mga kuya ko. Tutulungan ko lang din sila.”
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