Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s rookie sensation Titing Manalili has convinced plenty of fans that he’s the best point guard in the NCAA today.
San Beda University head coach Yuri Escueta, however, isn’t one of them.
For Escueta, his own facilitator in Nygel Gonzales is the best point guard in the league given the variety of skills he can offer to the Red Lions.
"Very important si Nygel. Alam ko people would say na, you know, the best point guard for them ay si Titing Manalili. He’s very good and talanted," Escueta said on the heels of an 84-81 win against Benilde that sent San Beda back to the finals.
"But for me, I believe, personally the best point guard in the NCAA is Nygel Gonzales.
Escueta specifically emphasized on Gonzales' value during their best-of-three Final Four series against the Blazers.
The third-year court general dropped 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists in their dominant 91-72 win in the series opener. He then carried the fight in Game 2 in the absence of injured Janti Miller, top-scoring with 17 markers, six boards, and two dimes as they fell on a Ian Torres game-winning jumper.
And with their backs against the wall in Game 3, Gonzales came up big in the endgame.
Gonzales poured five of his seven points in the fourth quarter, including a crucial three-point play off a Jhommel Ancheta foul at the 7:46 mark. That basically sparked the San Beda comeback as Yuki Andrada and Janti Miller put on the finishing blow to escape the Blazers.
Escueta said Gonzales’ value extends far beyond the stat sheet, and he that he can confidently claim he is the top guard in the league right now.
"He plays defense, he rebounds, he brings the ball down, his turnovers are low. ‘Yung assist-to-turnover ratio niya is one to four the whole season," Escueta added.
"So for me, alam ko maraming magsasabi na hindi totoo ‘yan, but for me, you can quote men on this, the best point guard is Nygel Gonzales."
Gonzales, though, is just welcoming Escueta's billing and said he's ready for the challenge of facing off with Manalili and the whole Knights in what is expected to be a dogfight finals.
"Well ako naman, sinusunod ko lang kung ano ‘yung sinasabi ng coaches eh. I try to maximize every scoring opportunities. Titignan namin sa practice kung ano ‘yung gagawin namin sa kanya, pero for sure papahirapan namin ‘yung Letran," Gonzales said.
"For me, from the very start ng rookie year palagi na akong china-challenge ni Coach Yuri kaya for me sanay na rin ako."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
