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To say that Mike DiGregorio was inspired in Blackwater’s game against NLEX on Wednesday is a great understatement.
The sophomore sniper was truly motivated to make his every shot count as he played through an emotional day.
“Today was actually a special day because it’s the death anniversary of my grandmom,” he shared. “And this morning, I found out that my cousin, his wife’s dad, passed away. He had a heart surgery, but he ended up passing away.”
Bearing a heavy heart, DiGregorio fought on and dedicated the game to his deceased relatives as he delivered a performance to remember.
The 26-year-old went 4-of-8 from three’s to tally a new career-high of 22 points, to go with four assists and three rebounds to lead the Elite to a 104-98 romp of the Road Warriors.
“I know how much their life meant to our family. It’s definitely tough for them so I want to dedicate this game to them. I’m thinking of them, I love them,” he said.
But the outstanding showing wasn’t just for DiGregorio’s relatives but also for himself, as he’s finally seeing the fruits of his labor, emerging as a solid contributor for Blackwater this 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“I’ve been working so hard for so long, a lot of hours before and after practice, so that’s where the confidence comes from, my preparation. I was prepared for this opportunity and I took advantage of it,” he said.
With DiGregorio catching fire, Blackwater’s dimming playoff hopes remained alive as they improved to a 2-6 slate with three more games left.
And the guard vows to not stop shooting, especially with a game against former team Mahindra in the pipeline slated on Sunday.
“Personally, I’m excited to play against them. But no hard feelings,” he said. “Like I told you before, they gave me the opportunity to play in this league. I’m very, very grateful to Mahindra, but I’m excited for Sunday.” /atm