First-year players Amiel Acido and Cielo Pagdulagan shine in final week of elimination round games in UAAP Season 87.
It was the rookies’ time to shine in the clutch for the UST Growling Tigers and the NU Lady Bulldogs as they each head into the playoffs of the UAAP Season 87 basketball tournaments.
Amiel Acido of UST, and Cielo Pagdulagan of NU were each named the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Players of the Week for the men’s and women’s tournament, respectively, for their efforts as the Growling Tigers qualified into the Final Four and the Lady Bulldogs completed a sweep of eliminations.
Acido, for his part, proved to be Coach Pido Jarencio’s “magic bunot” as he uncorked 14 points to go along two rebounds, one assist, and one block in UST’s Final Four-clinching win over the Adamson Soaring Falcons last week.
[RELATED: UAAP: UST rides third quarter surge to book Final Four slot at expense of Adamson]
For his veteran-like performance which propelled the Growling Tigers to their first Final Four since 2019, Acido nabbed the weekly citation backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by World Balance and Discovery Suites as minor sponsors.
Acido beat out his fellow UST teammate Mo Tounkara, UP’s Quentin Millora-Brown and Harold Alarcon, and NU’s PJ Palacielo for the weekly plum.
But the 6-foot-4 rookie wasn’t about to hog the credit for himself, as he also deflected the glory to his teammates who helped him get to his position.
“Nagpapasalamat lang ako sa mga gumabay sakin, lalo na sa coaches, sa teammates ko, and then sa mga PTs. Sila yung naging rason kung bakit ako nandito posisyon na to. Sobrang thankful ako sa kanila and grateful din ako sa mga blessings na dumadating sakin and sa opportunity na binigay ni Coach Pido,” said Acido.
“Sobrang saya ko hindi lang para sa sarili ko pero para sa buong team rin. Matagal na nilang gustong makabalik sa Final Four. Ang mindset ko lang simula palang nung una is pag nabigyan ako ng chance, gagawin ko lang lahat para maka-contribute para sa kanila, and yun nga, para matupad namin yung goals namin as a team.”
Meanwhile, over on the women’s side, it was Pagdulagan’s steady contributions for the Finals-bound Lady Bulldogs that put her over the edge over nominees UP’s Louna Ozar and Kaye Pesquera, UST’s Kent Pastrana and Tacky Tacatac, and her fellow Lady Bulldog Angel Surada.
In two wins over La Salle and FEU, the rookie normed 11 points, three boards, 1.5 assists, and 0.5 blocks to become the second Lady Bulldog to win the weekly plum after veteran Camille Clarin with NU claiming back-to-back Player of the Week citations.
“Super happy kasi first year ko tapos nag-sweep po agad kami sa may Finals. Pero gaya nga po ng sinabi ni Ate Angel, job’s not done. Kung bakit po kami nag sweep sa finals kasi wi-nork po talaga namin. And yun nga, hindi pa po tapos ang laban, so kailangan pa po namin mag trabaho,” said Pagdulagan.
“Di kami magiging kampante. 10 days nga yun so yung mga lapses namin ngayon, pwede naming magawan ng paraan so pagdating ng Finals, hindi na kami masyadong mahirapan and makapag-adjust kami.”
Now, both first year players are headed deep into the season with their respective teams as UST prepares for their Final Four battle against the UP Fighting Maroons who will be holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
NU, meanwhile, await the winners in the stepladder semis as the Lady Bulldogs sit pretty in the best-of-three Finals series.