Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Far Eastern University saw a glimpse of what Raymar Jose can really do this season.
FEU coach Nash Racela said just that after the 6-foot-4 bruiser had an impressive game with 11 points and career-best 22 rebounds in the Tamaraws’ 67-59 victory over UE.
“Raymar is capable of doing that every game,” he said.
Jose, though, wasn’t able to show his true form in FEU’s previous games thinking he needed to pace himself after suffering from cramps in the Tamaraws’ season-opening loss to the La Salle Green Archers last Sept. 7.
But Racela said that a pep talk with the coaches seemed to have solved the problem as the Tamaraws evened their record to 2-2.
“Raymar had a talk with some of our coaches and in the previous games, mina-manage niya yung sarili niya, meaning he’s not playing 100 percent when he’s on the floor. Natatakot siya mag-cramps sa fourth quarter,” he said.
FEU can’t afford to lack in intensity with Racela reiterating that the team is no longer in the same standing last year where it can switch their game on whenever it wants.
“This year is totally different. We need to switch our game on for 40 minutes. We’re not like the team last year na mayroong on and off switch, na kahit mag-relax kami ng konti, suddenly we can turn it on and makaka-recover kami,” the coach said.
And much of the pressure is vested on Jose as Racela seeks to draw more from his team captain.
“We’re telling him na pag naka-on ka ng 40 minutes, you can get over 20 rebounds,” he said. “Hopefully, he learns from that.”
But for Jose, what’s more important is FEU’s welfare as a whole, bouncing back from its sorry loss to Ateneo last Wednesday.
“Galing kami sa talo. Ngayon, buti naman naka-bounce back kami,” he said.