Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
If there was one player in San Beda who struggled to adjust from coach Jamike Jarin to coach Boyet Fernandez, it was Davon Potts.
The Fil-Am spiner’s minutes and numbers dwindled under the new mentor, mustering only 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 21.9 minutes in the elimination round.
“It was really hard for me this year,” he admitted.
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But Potts stayed the course and got the chance to show his worth in the Finals, averaging 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, and one assist.
His contribution seemed to be the missing piece as the Red Lions finally solved the puzzle that was the Pirates, sweeping the best-of-three title clash to claim the NCAA Season 93 title.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Potts, who is ending his two-year stay in Mendiola with a pair of rings. “I keep a lot of things at the back of my mind with the history of San Beda, and I owe it to them in bringing me here. I just wanted to make sure that we live the legacy and continue the championship, and make sure that we continue the winning culture here.”
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The championship is as a validation for Potts as he overcame every challenge thrown his way—from the tough transition brought by the coaching change to his killer schedule with the preseason grind and the PBA D-League.
“It was worth it because this is a testament to show that no matter what you go through, no matter how much you have a downfall, you can always bounce back,” he said, drawing a valuable life lesson in the process he had to go through.
“When you get up, you got to make sure to stay disciplined and persistent mentally and physically to get where you need to be. That is a testament to all the people that look up to me and make sure that nothing is easy, you have to earn it. Everything in life, you have to fight for everything you want to get.”
Now, Potts begins a new chapter in his career, this time in the PBA with Alaska which picked him in the second round of the 2017 PBA Draft.
But before he leaves Mendiola for good, his final year with the Red Lions taught him one thing.
“I won two championships with Cignal and I won two championships with San Beda. This just shows that you sacrifice not for your individual stats, but you sacrifice for the team,” he said. “That’s what counts, not the individual stats. You have to win because that’s what counts.”