Mark Nonoy fully embraces point guard mindset to lead Growling Tigers

MANILA, Philippines—A different version of Mark Nonoy is ready to play in the first Final Four of his collegiate career for University of Santo Tomas.

Nonoy was a scoring phenom for the Tiger Cubs but he has since slowly changed his playing style to be a more adept point guard in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament.

With the Final Four looming, Nonoy said he’s ready to display his different style and help the Growling Tigers get their first title in 13 years.

“My job now is to help my teammates improve, how to make them better, and how to put them in situations to score,” said Nonoy in Filipino Thursday at UST’s Quadricentennial Pavilion.

“When I make an assist, it’s like scoring for me and making plays and being a pass-first point guard is what I aim to do in my collegiate career. I have to be a pure point guard.”

Nonoy, who stands a shade under 5-foot-8, ripped defenses apart during his high school days averaging 21.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.6 steals but Growling Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo wanted his speedster to distribute the ball more and run their offense.

In the 14 games of the elimination round, Nonoy averaged 10 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.7 steals a game and those numbers were all massive drops from his days with the Tiger Cubs.

“This isn’t high school because there weren’t a lot of strong players back then and now you’ll barely find a player with a low skill level,” said Nonoy.

There is, however, a consolation for Nonoy’s humble efforts as he’s primed to become the league’s Rookie of the Year.

Nonoy led the Rookie of the Year race after the first round with 38.29 statistical points but an individual honor isn’t on the thought process of the young Growling Tiger.

“If I’m given the award then it’s a bonus, but our goal really is the championship,” said Nonoy. “We’re in the Final Four and we’ve worked hard for this. We sacrificed a lot to be in this position and this was the product of all our hard work during the summer,”