Perpetual Help’s Keith Pido. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With former NCAA Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson in attendance, Keith Pido delivered a masterful show, orchestrating Perpetual to a streak-stopping 76-62 victory over Arellano on Thursday.
Facing Jiovani Jalalon, arguably the best amateur playmaker in the country, the third-year guard held his own to the delight of his coach and allowed the Altas to put an end to the Chiefs’ seven-game winning run.
“Nakita ko na sya lang ang pwedeng tumapat kay Jalalon,” said coach Jimwell Gican. “Mahirap sa sitwasyon ni Keith dahil sya ang number one point guard namin, pero sabi ko nga, ganito talaga ang basketball. Kailangan natin mag-trabaho ng matindi para maging successful tayo.”
And Pido did, firing 10 points, seven assists, and four rebounds in the huge win to pull Perpetual at joint second with Arellano at 10-3.
“Syempre talagang hands down, raise the roof. Lahat naman ng players din kasi nag-trabaho. Si Pido, maganda rin ang ginawa nya and ganun din sa lahat. Yung kumpyansa nila, andoon na,” said Gican.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, gawin niyo lang ang trabaho niyo, gawin niyo lang ang tama, at tama rin ang balik sa inyo at saka sa atin.”
Pido admitted that the presence of Thompson motivated him to perform at his best.
“Idol ko po siya kaya ginagaya ko ng konti ang mga galaw niya,” he said. “Di talaga ako offensive-minded, pero mas depensa talaga ang focus ko. Dadating at dadating naman yung opensa.”
Pido knows that he had big shoes to fill after Thompson’s departure last year but that only motivated him to work harder with the Ginebra guard giving him guidance.
“Nung nawala si Scott, doon ako nag-extra work at pinapalakas ang mga weaknesses ko,” he said. “In-advise nya ako na basahin muna ang mga play tapos pag wala na talagang option, ako na kumuha.”
“Sa akin naman, ginagawa ko lang yung matutulong ko sa team.”