Aung Wana. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/ INQUIRER.net
Positives are scarce if you’re a team like Myanmar.
But that wouldn’t stop the crowd from appreciating the effort the Burmese showed in their second game in the 2017 Seaba Championship.
Most notably, it was guard Aung Wana who has earned the adulation of the crowd as he led Myanmar with his dazzling plays and colorful celebrations in its game against Vietnam on Sunday.
Though the Burmese fell for the second straight game, 77-44, to the Vietnamese, it was the 22-year-old playmaker who got the lion’s share of the spotlight.
His antics were so entertaining that even Filipino naturalized player Andray Blatche couldn’t help but cheer for him whenever he holds the leather.
“I feel so proud. Even Blatche is cheering for me,” he said through a translator.
Expectations might be low with the hastily assembled Myanmar team, but Wana shared that the team has been learning so much from this stint, especially from its 147-40 loss to Gilas Pilipinas last Friday.
“I learned so much playing against the Philippines like their stamina, their set plays, and their power,” he said.
As huge of a factor Wana has been for Myanmar, coach Ten Kok Heng thinks that his colorful guard still has tons of things to work on his game.
“He’s good. Offensively, he’s good, but defensively, he’s lazy. That’s why I’m having a hard time with him,” he said, sharing the tough love he has been imploring to his team. “I punish him all the time, but he’s learning.”
Myanmar will face Thailand next on Monday.