EVAN Nelle opened the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup with a notable performance that was timely due to injuries in the NorthPort backcourt.
Nelle had seven rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in the Batang Pier's 114-87 win over NLEX last Thursday in perhaps the most impactful game of his young professional career.
READ: NorthPort destroys NLEX by 27 points in impressive PBA debut
His effort didn’t go unnoticed, as NorthPort assistant coach Rensy Bajar, in the post-game press conference, mentioned Nelle as one of the key players in the win where they had to overhaul an early 16-point deficit.
While he struggled with his shots, going 0-for-4, he credited his teammates for his eight assists, as knowing his squad a lot better in terms of skills and tendencies made the difference.
“For that, I have to credit my teammates kasi nasu-shoot nila ‘yung mga passes ko. That's what I said when they asked me what was the difference of the team," Nelle said after turning in a stronger showing when compared to his averages of 3.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in the Governors’ Cup, his first conference in the PBA.
"Mas nakilala ko mga teammates ko. The familiarity, it was way better from my first conference."
Evan all night-y
Nelle said his performance last Thursday can also be attributed to the need to step up in the absence of Jio Jalalon, who is dealing with a back injury and missed the Commissioner’s Cup opener.
“I think I'm just filling in the role of kuya Jio. He's injured, so I'm just trying to help as much as I can (and) learn from him and Fran [Yu]. So whatever the team needs, ‘yun ‘yung tina-try kong gawin,” he said.
From being one of the main guys at La Salle to being a role player with the Batang Pier, the rookie guard admitted there had to be an adjustment for him, also furthering that every decision in the pro game is a calculated one.
“Kasi here in the pros, I'm one of the youngest. Everybody's so good. The game is so slow. The pace is so slow. Everything is just read and react, so it was just an adjustment. That's why they would always tell me make the game slow and play with pace,” said Nelle.
“So that was an adjustment for me and I think I'm trying to learn day-by-day,” the former San Beda high school standout also said.
Ahead of NorthPort’s second game of the conference against Terrafirma, the 26-year-old said there is still a lot to improve - his shooting, in particular, as he missed all three of his tries from deep.
“Mahigitan ko sana. Hindi ako maka-shoot. I had zero points. I was trying to find my rhythm. So I just tried to pass a lot, tried to facilitate,” Nelle said.
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