A career resurgence for Roi Sumang?

Blackwater head coach Nash Racela said he wants to see the spitfire guard rediscover his old form that made him one of most menacing players out of the collegiate ranks.

Racela knows too well how Sumang can shoot the lights out as he tried to devise a plan to contain the former UE Red Warrior back when he called the shots for the FEU Tamaraws.

“We want him to bring his game back to the level he played in UE,” Racela said in Filipino about the former UAAP Mythical Five member.

“We want to remind him that when was playing for UE, we had a hard time guarding him.”

Sumang showed the way for Blackwater in its Philippine Cup opener against NorthPort as he netted a team-high tying 17 points on a cool 6-of-10 shooting in a 96-89 win.

He added 4 rebounds and 2 steals and recorded a plus-minus of +10.

“We see him hesitate when shooting. We tell him, ‘You are capable of doing that.’ If you think you are open and you have a good shot, then go ahead and take it,” Racela said.

The 29-year-old also stamped his mark on defensive with a crucial steal in the final minute.

Down 89-93 and with the ball in its possession, NorthPort had plenty of time for a comeback but Sumang forced a Kevin Ferrer turnover, which led to an Ed Daquioag layup that gave Blackwater a six-point lead with 28 ticks left.

“I know he is adjusting, but he had good contributions today,” Racela said. “We will look to him as one of our leaders, as one of our veterans at Blackwater.” – Rappler.com