Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Sidelined with an injury better part of last season, Yankie Haruna is aching to get a break in his quest to once again be a major contributor for College of St. Benilde.
The past year hasn’t been too good to him after a right shoulder injury ruled him out of the season just weeks before the tournament started.
But with a renewed approach that comes with the new year, Haruna is facing the future with brand new eyes as he looks to start from the ground up with Go for Gold in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
Averaging 8.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, the Fil-Am forward has established himself as a solid rotation player for coach Charles Tiu and the Scratchers as he slowly rebuilds himself back up.
With his efforts, Haruna knew that he was due for a breakout game, something which he got last Thursday in Go for Gold’s 106-95 victory over Batangas-EAC.
Active all over the floor, he had his best game to date in the developmental league, finishing with 23 markers, five boards, three dimes, and three steals.
That performance did not go unnoticed as Tiu commended the 24-year-old for his continued dedication to rise from his injury.
“He’s been playing better. His athleticism, his outside shooting has improved so much. His leadership role, he’s matured a lot and he’s the team captain of our CSB team,” said the youthful mentor.
Haruna admitted that it wasn’t easy, but he’s just glad that he’s eventually getting his old self back while also continuing to develop his game in preparation for the upcoming collegiate season.
“In the beginning, it was rough for me coming off an injury because I’m just working my way up. Through out the process, I just grind it out. That’s what I’ve been doing — just work throughout the process,” he said.
Though he’s still far from his desired form, Haruna said he’s going to continue to put in the work as he and the rest of his teammates seek to bring back the lost glory of the Blazers in the NCAA.
“Hopefully, all the work I did will pay off,” he said.
Haruna, though, knows not to get too ahead of himself as he focuses on the current task at hand with Go for Gold, which is set to take on a contender in Marinerong Pilipino on Tuesday.
“We got a long way to go and we’re working on it,” he said. “We just have to stay consistent about playing hard and being aggressive, and hopefully everything works out for us.”