Camson’s big game vs former team NLEX not enough to carry Kia

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Eric Camson said his impressive performance against his former team NLEX did not have any hint of redemption.

Camson nearly carried Picanto to an upset win over the Road Warriors Wednesday in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup.

“No,” said the 27-year-old, who played for the Road Warriors for four years, when asked if getting back at NLEX was part of his motivation.

But his actions tell otherwise, as Camson balled out from the moment he entered the game, pouring 15 of his 24 points in the first quarter as the Picanto came out the gates on fire.

However, he and the rest of Kia could not sustain their blistering start as it fell to NLEX, 119-115, in its season opener.

Aside from his scoring, the Batangueño also hauled down nine rebounds in the losing cause.

But Camson made it clear that it was a personal goal of his, and not anything related to any sorts of revenge, to bounce back after a largely dismal showing late last year, which also coincided with the Picanto’s winless streak in the 2017 Governors’ Cup.

“I really knew that I didn’t play the way I should. So in the offseason, I adjusted, and now that we’re under new management, they’ve been giving us confidence and I think that’s the reason why we played well,” he said.

That confidence was evident for Camson, who shot 9-of-19 from the field.

“Coach Chris (Gavina) always tells us that if you’re open, take it. Why not? That’s what we’re looking for. We can’t just execute and once we’re open, we won’t shoot it. So that’s what we have to do,” he said in Filipino.

Kia took flak for its offseason moves, Camson believes that the way his team performed in the curtain raiser did show glimpses of its potential.

“When you talk about Kia, people couldn’t help but think that we’ll always going to lose. So it’s a motivation for us. In our minds, before they beat us, they have to bleed for it,” he said. “We’re hungry for a win and we want to show to everyone that when you’re facing Kia, we’re not easy-pickings. If we lose, we’ll make sure they worked hard for it.”

And Camson is confident to say that it won’t take that long before the Picanto get that elusive win.

“This Kia team is different. It’s really different compared to how we were before.”