GBoy De Vega answered his naysayers in the best way possible — playing his best game of the season as UST forces NU to a do-or-die in the UAAP Final Four.
GBoy De Vega was able to bounce back just at the right time for the UST Golden Spikers, following a rather pedestrian performance during eliminations in UAAP Season 87.
Having been quiet in the midst of an up-and-down season for the Golden Spikers, De Vega found his rhythm at the most opportune time, uncorking 14 points in an upset victory for UST against the twice-to-beat NU Bulldogs in the Final Four on Saturday.
Just days after being drubbed by the same NU squad to end the elimination round, De Vega proved to be a difference maker for UST in the upset, as he was also named a surprise starter by head coach Odjie Mamon. With each point, De Vega said that his confidence was at an all-time high.
[READ: Josh Ybañez, UST stun NU in explosive start to UAAP Season 87 Final Four]
“First, syempre, [I want to say] thank you kasi binigyan ako ulit ng chance ni coach na makabalik and ma-prove [wrong] yung doubters ko na hindi [daw] ako makakatulong sa team. So ayun I’m very happy lang na nakapag-contribute ako sa madaming way,” said De Vega.
“I hope na mas mapagtrabahuhan ko pa yun and mapagensayuhan ko pa nang sa ganon, sa next game, mas okay yung mapakita ko,” he added.
Despite high-flying dynamo Josh Ybañez remaining as their go-to scorer in the clutch, De Vega was able to come up with his own big points, especially as they were competing against an NU team that is seeking five-straight UAAP titles.
Asked about the surprise starting spot for De Vega, UST coach Mamon said that it all had to do with GBoy’s tried and tested experience in the playoffs and must-win games.
“[It was] not pang gulat but tiwala ako don kasi Gboy played in two championships already. So, with the endorsement also of the coaching staff, we decided to fill in Gboy and also have Alche [Gupiteo] in the roster,” said the veteran tactician.
“So, yun lang. Maganda naman yung resulta. So, thank you, you didn’t let me down,” he added, patting De Vega for a job well done.
Despite seeing limited playing time throughout Season 87, De Vega said that it wasn’t difficult to stay locked in. Because at the end of the day, regardless of his role in the team, he just wanted to help lead the Golden Spikers to victory.
Against NU, that was exactly what he did.
“Wala po [akong idea na mags-start ako] actually kanina niya lang sinabi sakin and di naman po ako nagugulat. Kumbaga, each and every day, tska each and every game po, ready ako sa kung ano yung ibigay saking role. Kung service specialist, basta kung kailangan po ako, lalo na pag alanganin, mine-make sure ko na ready ako palagi,” he said.
“Thankful talaga ako kay coach kasi binigyan niya ulit ako ng kumpyansa makabalik sa laro ko and di ko magagawa yun lahat kung wala akong kumpyansa sa coach ko and sa teammates ko.”
[RELATED: Belief propels UST to Final Four do-or-die vs 5-peat seeking NU: 'We know na beatable sila’]
Despite his success in the initial Final Four game, De Vega understands that the job is far from over for UST. More so now as the wounded Bulldogs should be eager to bounce back in Game 2.
Going up against a powerhouse team seeking a historic five-peat, De Vega will need to replicate his performance last weekend, and then some.
For De Vega, he’ll need to focus on what is in front of them, and not get lost in what happened before, and what else can happen.
“There’s this person na nagsabi samin na don’t stay in your past. Kumbaga, kung ano yung mga nangyari before, tapos na po yun eh kaya win yung sinisigaw namin na what’s important is now. Nage-emphasize kami kung gaano kaimportante yung kasalukuyan kasi yun lang yung kaya namin kontrolin at yun yung kaya namin paglabanan,” said De Vega.
“Yung past, tapos na talaga eh. So yun, yung mindset ko… What’s important is now kaya yung point na inaano namin, pinaghihirapan talaga namin, each and every point, and each every set, and hanggang sa nakuha namin yung isang game.”
UST and NU figure in the rubber match for the right to face top seed FEU Tamaraws in the best-of-three Finals on Wednesday, May 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.