Challenged by coach, Melecio steps up for La Salle

FILE – La Salle’s Aljun Melecio. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

With La Salle looking dazed in the first half, coach Aldin Ayo called the attention of Aljun Melecio as the rookie struggled to do his share on the floor.

“Nung first half, sinabihan ako ni coach na, ‘Ano, ayaw mo manalo?’ Nung nakita ni coach na parang ayaw ko manalo, sabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi pwede ito,” Melecio recalled.

Melecio was lackluster in the first two frames, going scoreless in his six minutes on the floor.

But when the second half rolled on, the former La Salle Greenhills knew he had to make a mark.

“Na-challenge na ako kasi ever since naman, gusto ko manalo. Kaya naging lalong aggressive ako nitong second half,” he said.

Melecio poured all of his 12 points in the final two frames, but none bigger than his trey to knot the score at 67 with 1:44 left to play.

But other than his offense, it’s Melecio’s defense which Ayo wants to put premium on.

“I trust him,” said the first-year mentor. “Kung hindi maglalaro ng depensa yun, hindi ko gagamitin yun. That was his fault on the first half and sana ma-realize nya yun especially with our system. We always prioritize defense.”

Melecio also believes he already learned his lesson and seeks to once again repay his coach’s trust come the Final Four.

“Ayoko lang i-down si coach sa binibigay nya sa akin na kumpyansa,” he said.