IN the last three years, Mark Llemit was more than glad to take care of the dirty work for University of Santo Tomas, as the likes of Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao shone under the spotlight.
With Cabanero and Padrigao both gone to the pros, however, the spot at the forefront of the Growling Tigers' attack was left open - and it was up to the fourth-year wing to step forward.
That, he did, starting from the preseason and now into the earlygoings of UAAP Season 89.
And truth be told, Llemit is actually back in his comfort zone.
"Na-miss ko lang yung ganitong moments, kasi nga, marami akong ganito nung high school," he told SPIN.ph after firing a collegiate career-high 22 points on top of seven rebounds and three assists, as the black-and-gold disposed of luckless University of the East.
READ: Llemit makes sure UST braves through good scare put up by UE
"Pero ngayon ngang kelangan na lalong maging leader, 'di naman nakakapanibago. Konting adjustment lang, pero nagamay rin naman agad."
UST's homegrown product
Before willingly serving as supporting cast for stalwarts such as Cabanero and Padrigao, Llemit was the leader of the band for a UST side that played beautiful music in the Season 85 juniors, to the tune of averages of 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 steals. In spearheading his squad to a playoff berth, he was ranked 19th in the NBTC's annual rankings of the top 24 under-19 players in the Philippines.
The 6-foot-3 swingman gave glimpses of that blue-chip talent in his first three seasons in the seniors, as he also proved to be a key contributor in the Growling Tigers' return to the Final Four.
Fast forward to today as the unquestioned leader alongside Amiel Acido and Collins Akowe, however, he is more and more looking like he is primed for a breakout campaign.
"Nung preseason pa lang, ganito na talaga yung wino-work namin. Kasi nga sila Nic, wala na, so kailangan na naming mag-step up," he said.
And if his game-long brilliance against the winless, yet very game Red Warriors is any indication, he is staking his claim to being mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Cabanero, Padrigao, Ed Daquioag, Kevin Ferrer, and Jeric Teng.
Llemit waited a while for a golden opportunity to run the show. Now at the controls, where he has always been in control, UST has to be feeling good about where he's taking them.
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