The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters had themselves a busy PBA Season 46 rookie draft back in March, and already, they are seeing quick and favorable returns from their haul of prospects in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.
The team’s top rookie pick Santi Santillan, drafted fifth overall, got praised in particular by head coach Chris Gavina after Rain or Shine escaped the Magnolia Hotshots in a chippy 75-72 win.
“Santi has been a revelation for us, to be honest with you. We knew the amount of work ethic he possessed, but his ability to just raise his game up as the games get bigger and bigger has truly shown as the season comes along,” he said.
In a team bannered by veteran forwards and big men like Beau Belga and Norbert Torres, the lanky 25-year-old from Cebu outshone the rest with a line of 14 points and 5 rebounds in just 25 minutes on the floor.
“It’s an added luxury on my part to have such a high-potential output kind of player and rookie in Santi,” Gavina continued.
Former collegiate rival guards Anton Asistio and Andrei Caracut, picked back-to-back with the 22nd and 23rd picks, respectively, likewise got significant minutes and praise from their head coach.
“I’ve explained to them, they’re no longer rookies in my eyes. So we put them through a trial of fire, and what more than this Magnolia team with all these tough defensive-minded guards,” Gavina said.
After a career-high 14-point game with four triples against Barangay Ginebra in their last game, Asistio was held to just two points against Magnolia, but nonetheless brought the intangibles since he was kept out there for 29 minutes.
Caracut, meanwhile, likely impressed with his 3-point, 2-rebound, 2-assist line in just five minutes of action against Ginebra, so he was rewarded with a 17-minute showing against Magnolia, where he responded with 7 points on 3-of-5 shooting.
“They really stood their ground, and we’re hoping they can be consistent in what they do, and how they do things as we continue with our last two games,” Gavina said.
“We don’t have labels with our young guys anymore. All we see are players. I don’t consider them rookies in any way or form. These guys have really stepped up, and owned up to the accountability and the level of play that we needed them to rise up to.”
These rookies will certainly have their maturity tested to the limit once again as Rain or Shine completes its hellish three-game run against the San Miguel Corporation with one final test against the Beermen on Sunday, September 12, 2 pm. – Rappler.com
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