By: Joaquin Cortez

Like many standout juniors from the Grand Old League before him, NCAA Season 101 Finals MVP Justin Cargo could have followed the familiar path from the high school ranks to the UAAP.

Instead, the 6-foot guard from Negros Occidental chose to stay with Colegio de San Juan de Letran and continue his development with the Knights.

Three games into his collegiate career, that decision is already looking like the right one.

The former Squires star, who helped steer Letran to the Season 101 juniors crown and earned Finals MVP honors, finally enjoyed his first breakout moment on the seniors stage.

“Masaya. Pinagtrabahuhan ko naman po ‘to,” said the 20-year-old Cargo after his breakout performance.

“Sinusunod ko lang ‘yong pinapagawa sa akin, lalo na ‘yong defense.”

Against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Thursday, Cargo paced the Knights with a career-high 22 points, along with three rebounds and two steals, to power Letran past the Generals.

Cargo’s emergence has not surprised head coach Allen Ricardo, who has long believed that the former Squires leader possessed the tools to make an immediate impact at the next level.

“Well, for Justin Cargo, it’s all about the character,” Ricardo said.

“‘Yan talaga ‘yong nakita ko sa kanya since high school, kaya hindi ako nagdalawang-isip na kunin siya. Alam ko kung ano ‘yong kaya niyang ibigay.”

(C) NCAA

Cargo’s decision to remain with Letran also stands out at a time when several former NCAA Juniors MVPs have opted to continue their careers in the UAAP.

Among the notable names who made the jump are former NCAA Juniors MVPs Amiel Acido, JD Cagulangan, Luis Pablo, and Lebron Jhames Daep, while Sean Franco recently transferred to the University of the Philippines.

Cargo admitted that there was interest from UAAP schools during the recruitment process, although he declined to identify which programs reached out.

In the end, however, staying with Letran offered him something he valued more than a change of scenery.

“Una-una, as a player, kailangan ko rin ng playing time kung saan ako magagamit,” Cargo said.

“No’ng pag-ensayo ko pa lang sa Letran, nakita ko na magagamit talaga ako dito. Sabi naman ni Coach Allen, talagang may plano siya para sa akin.”

That trust has already translated into a larger role for the Knights, with Cargo thriving in Letran’s up-tempo system while adjusting to the physicality and speed of the collegiate game.

“Siguro ‘yong maturity lang po at ‘yong pagiging mas patient,” Cargo said when asked about the biggest adjustment from juniors to seniors.

After watching Letran fall short in last season’s NCAA Finals, the rookie guard is determined to help bring the Knights back to the championship stage.

“’Yong natalo sila last year, siyempre naramdaman ko rin kung gaano kasakit ‘yong pakiramdam na matalo sa finals,” he said.

“Goal namin ngayong season na makabawi, makabalik sa finals, at makuha ‘yong championship this year.”

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Perpetual Help had to navigate a major setback during the offseason when Patrick Sleat, Olsen Racela’s trusted all-around forward since their days at Far Eastern University, decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and turn professional with San Juan.

The departure left a significant hole for the Altas, with Sleat having played a key role in steering Perpetual Help to a Final Four appearance in NCAA Season 101.

But rather than dwell on the loss, Racela and his players used the offseason to prepare for a new-look campaign, with the Altas gradually finding their footing after an opening-day defeat to Letran.

“Noong summer, we adjusted already, and the players knew that it was up to them that we lost six players, but this is their opportunity now so I think lahat sila they’re just grabbing the opportunity na binigay sa kanila,” said Racela.

Perpetual Help has since built momentum, winning two straight games after beating San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 86-74, on Monday.

The Altas have also received timely contributions from several players who have embraced bigger roles in the absence of their departed veterans.

After Mark Gojo Cruz powered Perpetual Help past Emilio Aguinaldo College last Thursday, LA Casinillo and JM Tulabut took charge against the Stags when San Sebastian threatened to pull off an upset.

“It just shows, I guess, that anyone can step up. I think si Jim Corpuz played quality minutes also today and like I always tell them, you just have to be ready single every time doesn’t matter kung sino nasa bench and do whatever you can to help the team,” Racela added.

Tulabut led all scorers with 18 points and three rebounds, while Casinillo chipped in 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals to help the Altas secure the 86-74 victory.

With Perpetual Help potentially losing another key contributor in JD Pagulayan, who is set to receive a diagnosis for his injury on Tuesday, the importance of relying on one another has only grown.

For Racela, however, the foundation for that mentality was already laid during the offseason.

“I think the work we put in was done in the summer, and they realized when I told them that we shouldn’t be talking about those who are not here, that we should be focusing on the players that are right here.”

The post Pat Sleat’s departure forces Perpetual Help to find new answers appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Some comparisons are earned through championships, others through the way players impose themselves on the court.

For National University big men Kenshin Padrones and PJ Palacielo, their stocky frames, physicality, and low-post grit have already drawn comparisons to Rain or Shine’s iconic “Extra Rice” duo of Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan.

That has earned the Bulldogs pair a fitting moniker of their own: “Extra Half Rice.”

Still carving out their own careers, Padrones and Palacielo have embraced the comparisons to Belga and Quiñahan, who won two PBA championships together with the Elasto Painters under coach Yeng Guiao.

On Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, the NU duo showed why the comparison has stuck, combining for 20 points and 19 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ 76-56 victory over the University of the East.

After the win, Palacielo pointed to the similarities in their playing styles with the beloved PBA veterans.

“Sa totoo lang, masaya,” said Palacielo after NU’s 76-56 win over UE. “Kasi, ayun nga, um, knowing na kami ni Kenshin, talagang sa puso kaming naglalaro—‘yong mga float, mga piso-piso, mga power moves sa loob. At naalala ko rin ‘yong duo ni Quiñahan at ni Belga, napapanood ko rin ‘yun dati.

“Ito, masasabi ko talaga na parang ganun kami dati. Kasi, um, may sarili kaming strength ni Kenshin, e. Magagawa naman namin ang lahat ng chance sa court. ‘’Yan talaga ‘yung strength namin, ‘yong talagang bakbakan sa loob ng paint,” he continued.

“Sa defending, mabigat talaga kami ni Kenshin pagka defenders kami sa post. Mai-intimidate ka talaga ‘pag nasa loob kami. Proper defense lang at contain lang siya.”

While the comparison is flattering, both players remain grounded in their development.

Having come a long way since their rookie campaigns in Season 85, Padrones and Palacielo understand that their roles as NU’s veteran big men require them to push each other every day, with the ultimate goal of helping the Bulldogs capture their first UAAP championship since Season 77.

For Padrones, that growth starts in practice, where the two big men constantly challenge one another to become better.

(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team

“Siguro kulang pa, kasi mas kailangan pa namin pagbutihin para sa susunod na games,” said Padrones. “Isang karangalan ‘yung mahalintulad kina Kuya Beau at kay Kuya Quiñahan. Isang karangalan ‘yan para sa akin.

“Ginagawa namin ni PJ, bilang mga veteran na big man, ang mga pinapagawa ni Coach Jeff (Napa) kasi, ‘yun nga, tulad ng mga maraming magagaling na bigs, siguro ginagawa ko lang kung saan ako mas effective. Nagiging competitive kami sa practice at, siyempre, hindi namin pinagbibigyan ang isa’t isa para mas gumaling kami.”

NU still has plenty of work to do before it can seriously think about ending its 12-year title drought.

After opening Season 89 with a loss to De La Salle University last week, the Bulldogs bounced back against UE, but the result also highlighted areas they still need to address—particularly their ability to play consistent basketball from the opening tip until the final buzzer.

As two of the team’s veteran leaders, Padrones and Palacielo are eager to guide their younger teammates toward the same kind of success Belga and Quiñahan enjoyed together with Rain or Shine.

“Tulad ng sabi ni Coach Jeff (Napa), hindi ito ‘yung result na gusto namin pero malaking boost ‘to sa amin para sa next game kasi galing kami (sa) talo,” said Padrones.

“Kumbaga parang tulong sa amin para makabalik sa kung ano man ‘yun.”

For Palacielo, however, leadership is not about placing themselves above the rest of the team.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, pare-parehas lang naman tayong players,” said Palacielo.

“Senior niyo lang kami at makikinig kayo sa amin, pero pagdating sa court, pare-parehas lang tayong players. Hopefully, madala talaga namin. Kasi sinabi ko, kailangan talaga lahat mag-contribute sa team.”

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