UP Fighting Maroons’ Janjan Felicilda. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Janjan Felicilda vows to continue embracing his role for the University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
The transferee guard from National University was scoreless but registered a plus 18 efficiency in the game, dishing out eight assists on top of five rebounds, and two steals as UP remained unbeaten in two games after beating University of the East with an 84-69 rout on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“We have respective roles on our team. I just did my role as a point guard. I facilitated [the plays] and shared the ball with my teammates,” said Felicilda in Filipino.
As Terrence Fortea missed his second straight game due to a knee injury, Felicilda said that he and fellow point guard JD Cagulangan have to embrace their role by making the most of their scorers led by Malick Diouf, Harold Alarcon, and CJ Cansino.
“We have a lot of scorers like Harold and CJ so we need to move the ball and find them the right position to score,” Felicilda said.
“Coach Goldwin [Monteverde] always lets us play our game and follow our instincts. He guides us in executing the plays but he trusts our decision,” he added.
Felicilda, who took a one-year residency last season, is excited to face his former school NU on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I’m excited because we will see each other again and that match-up won’t be easy. They are strong so we have to work hard in practice and be ready for the challenges that we will face this Saturday,” he said.