Terrafirma high choose Stephen Holt. –PBA IMAGES
Friday’s PBA doubleheader featured a research in contrasts as two high rookies with expertise enjoying abroad made their respective debuts.
No. 1 choose Stephen Holt turned in a quite underwhelming efficiency in Terrafirma’s 108-103 loss to NorthPort, whereas No. 6 choose Kenneth Tuffin figured prominently in Phoenix’s 113-101 comeback victory over NLEX.
Each have been hardly within the temper to fixate on their respective showings at Sensible Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“You realize, I simply gotta keep true to who I’m,” mentioned Holt, a Filipino-American scoring guard whose a number of stints abroad was projected to convey instant affect to the league’s perennial doormat.
“I’m a crew participant who performs protection. I make the fitting performs, make the fitting passes, make the fitting pictures. I used to be simply unlucky that I couldn’t assist the crew win on the finish of the day,” he added.
Holt solely had 11 factors over the course of 38 minutes. He did have a powerful defensive effort, which yielded 4 steals.
“The foremost factor I’m right here for is to enhance. So all I can do is put my head down, maintain grinding and maintain serving to my boys out,” he mentioned.
Tuffin, who performed professional ball in New Zealand for 3 years previous to coming into this 12 months’s PBA Rookie draft, had a extra full outing numbers-wise with 16 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists.
“With Phoenix, the entire thought of why they drafted me was that they anticipated me to contribute immediately—regardless of the crew wants,” he mentioned.
“I play 4 positions, so no matter coach Jamike (Jarin) wants me to tug, I obtained to be prepared to do this. The expectation was for me to contribute and I really feel like I did that—in addition to my different teammates,” Tuffin added.
Tuffin wasn’t the one newcomer who was large within the Gasoline Grasp’s rally from 16 factors down. Ricci Rivero additionally contributed 15 factors and 4 rebounds.
Holt can have the prospect to cost his shaky debut to a easy off night time when Terrafirma battles Blackwater.
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“It’s a protracted season. The one factor we will do now’s get our heads down and maintain constructing,” mentioned Holt.
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