MANILA, Philippines – Isaac Go finally had his breakout game in Ateneo’s revenge win against Adamson, but all he wants now is to flash the same form in the crucial Ateneo-La Salle showdown on Sunday, November 11. 

“There’s some pressure from the coaching staff that challenged me to produce numbers – produce more, because a lot of guys are underproducing – basically coach Tab (Baldwin) expects more from us,” the Ateneo center said.

Go, the “clutch hero” in Ateneo’s title romp last season, has been struggling to put up the numbers this year as he only averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds.  

But he snapped out of the slump against Adamson last Sunday and topscored with 12 points and 7 boards. 

Go said he just responded to Baldwin’s challenge to the Blue Eagles to bring out their “killer instinct.”

“I think right now, we haven’t shown enough for him (Baldwin) to just stop preaching, but I think we’re getting there,” said Go. “Eventually, I hope that we get to a point where coach doesn’t have to keep reminding us.” 

Go and the Blue Eagles will have work double-time especially against a streaking La Salle whose foreign student-athlete Taane Samuel is reportedly due to return from injury.

Even though Samuel has only played one game this season before getting sidelined with a foot injury, the former Xavier Stallion knows what the Kiwi big man is capable of as they’ve clashed in the preseason where Ateneo won in overtime. 

“He was quite a challenge because [he] was really a big, athletic guy. Even though for his size, he has a quick first step and he’s strong and he has a good outside shooting,” Go said of Samuel. 

But it’s more of the entire Green Archers they’re concerned about as the Blue Eagles aim to clinch the twice-to-beat Final Four advantage. 

And they can do so at once if they win over their archrivals. – Rappler.com