A coach’s trust can take a player to a whole new level, and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers are slowly but surely getting to that plane.
Both Renzo Subido and rookie Ken Zamora credited their head coach Aldin Ayo for showing them the way after UST put on an inspired performance and subdued Far Eastern University, 76-74, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.
“I know that I can get out of whatever slump I’m in as long as I the trust coach and just do whatever coach tells us to do,” said Subido in Filipino Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Subido shot 5-of -24 for 15 points in UST’s opening day loss to National University, 75-70, but seemed to have a reversal of fate against FEU scoring 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
Ayo said he wasn’t that all too disappointed with Subido’s performance since all those shots were well within his system.
“It’s for the whole team, I always tell them that if you’re free then take the shot as long as it’s within the play and the system,” said Ayo. “You just have to be responsible and just execute the plays.”
Zamora, meanwhile, made the best of a crucial opportunity just two games into his collegiate career.
He hit the dagger against the Tamaraws when he drove the lane and blazed past several Tamaraws to beat the shot clock and give UST a 76-71 buffer with 18.5 seconds left.
The rookie knew he just heeded the call that Ayo gave them.
“Coach just wanted to execute well, and actually the play wasn’t for me but when I looked up at the shot clock and saw it about to run out, I almost gave it to kuya Renzo, but I had to take the shot thankfully I got it,” said Zamora, who finished with five points, three rebounds, and two steals, in Filipino.