Desire to help Aces fuels Manuel to best game yet this season

Vic Manuel goes up for a dunk. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Playing his best game to date, Vic Manuel is elated to once again be able contribute for Alaska.

“I really wanted to help our team. We really needed this win,” he said after the Aces’ thrilling 81-79 victory over Meralco on Wednesday.

Manuel topped his side with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists in the win that allowed Alaska to rebound and improve its standing to an even 2-2.

Coming off a calf injury that sidelined him in the offseason, 29-year-old bruiser was happy to get extended minutes on the floor, partly also because of the team’s lack of big men.

Though still feeling the effects of his injury, Manuel says that slowly, he’s getting his groove back.

“I think I’m getting it back. I’m doing it slowly because I’m still feeling the effects of my injury, that’s why I’m still wary,” he said.

And Manuel is looking forward to continuing that path to recovery as he sees this win over the Bolts as a rallying point for the Aces for their next games.

This will be a motivation for us to win for the next games. We have to do what we need to do to win. We’re lacking on big guys so we have to be aggressive every time coach uses us. And that’s what we’re showing.”