Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Despite having one of the best games of his career, Louie Vigil was left to rue what he wasn’t able to do after University of Santo Tomas dropped its opening game to Ateneo Sunday.
“Personally, I’m frustrated kasi we didn’t get the W (win),” Vigil said. “Individually din, hindi ako contented sa game ko kasi I know I’m a good 3-point shooter and then I went 0-for-7. So initially, hindi ko talaga nagustuhan yung game ko ngayon.”
Vigil finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to lead the Growling Tigers, but he opted to focus on his woeful shooting, urging himself to perform better in the coming games.
The 24-year-old scorer also admitted that the last three minutes of the third proved to be UST’s undoing, as the Blue Eagles got their groove before breaking away courtesy of a 7-0 tear early in the fourth, rattling the Growling Tigers in the process.
“Last three minutes in the third quarter, they were making their shots. Hilaw yung close out namin, we didn’t change our defense, and we stuck to that plan,” he said. “Kung may extra minute pa nung fourth quarter panalo na sana. But yun, yung oras, kinulang sa oras. And yung sa offensive side naman, yung outside shooting namin hindi talaga gumana.”
“Yun nga yung sinasabi ko sa kanila, two or three weeks ago pa, na may first game jitters pero hindi na dapat maging reason yun. But as you could see, may mga teammates pa ako na nangangapa kasi ngayon lang din nakalaro talaga. Yung iba, ngayon lang din nakabalik.”
Vigil vowed UST will be better next time out, as he hopes that this loss would serve as an early reminder for the team to keep its hunger as the season goes.
“Makakapag-adjust kami next game. Let’s see kung ano yung ihahanda ni coach na defense. Siyempre yun yung battlecry namin, defense. So let’s see kung ano yung bago niya ibibigay at ipapagawa sa amin,” he said, as UST braces for UE on Saturday. “We’ll be better next game, for sure.”