Just months removed from his rookie season with University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the NCAA, young gun Jun Roque has already shown vast improvement in his on-court skills.
The incoming sophomore has been a key piece in the ALTAs' offseason campaigns in the PBA D-League and FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, dropping huge numbers as Perpetual thrived in both tournaments.
And heading into the NCAA Season 99, Roque said he's up for the tall task of turning the Las Piñas crew into a championship team.
"Ready naman [ako] sa Final Four and 'yung maging championship-caliber [kami], handa naman kami," Roque told GMA Integrated News.
"Disiplina lang talaga sa sarili and time management. Syempre may pressure 'yan pero susunod lang kami sa game plan ni coach."
("I'm ready for the Final Four and for us to become championship-caliber. We're ready... It just takes discipline and time management. Of course, there's pressure, but we'll just follow our coach's game plan.")
Roque was seldom used in the previous season, averaging 4.0 points, 2.12 rebounds, 0.47 assists, 0.35 blocks, and 0.29 steals in 9.46 minutes of action as Perpetual finished ninth with a 7-11 win-loss card.
But the ALTAs have suddenly surged in this offseason, finishing as the top seed in the FilOil tilt while making it to the semifinals of the D-League with Roque and other youngsters like Cyrus Nitura, John Abis, and Carlo Ferreras, showing the way.
As he continues on his path to stardom, Roque, who was originally recruited by Colegio de San Juan de Letran during the pandemic, said he is grateful to Perpetual head coach Myk Saguiguit for the trust and opportunities given to him.
"Sobrang laki ng opportunity na binibigay ni coach sa akin and 'yung tiwala niya sa akin hindi naaalis. 'Yun lang, sabi niya laro lang ako nang laro and 'yung kumpiyansa sa sarili 'wag mawala," Roque added.
("It's such a big opportunity that I was given by coach and the trust he has in me is always there. He just told me to go out and play and never let my confidence waver.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
