Tyler Tio on career-high 16 points: I just tried to do my job

With Ateneo's starting guard Matt Nieto out as he recovers from dengue, sophomore Tyler Tio was tapped to fill in for Nieto's place.

And he did not disappoint. In Wednesday's win over the UE Red Warriors, 90-70, the former Xavier High School standout registered his career-high 16 point-performance.

Despite the achievement, Tio said he is just doing his job. "I just tried to do my job and I'm confident kasi, [that] If I don't do my job, someone else [from] the bench is gonna step up. At the same time, that motivates me to do my job also."

Tyler Tio on his career-high 16 point-performance: I’m just doing my part. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/5fO0GflF8C

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) October 24, 2018

The sophomore guard also said he really cannot replace Nieto, whom he described as "one of the best point guards" in collegiate basketball.

"Matt for me is probably one of the best college point guards right now so it's really a tough job to replace him and I don't think I can replace him, so I'm just doing my job to be me. I'm not trying to be 'him,'" Tio added.

He also praised Nieto for giving his heart to the team. "We push each other during practices. Matt's the kind of guy that gives his all every practice. I learn a lot from that. More than the skills and the X's and O's, it's his heart that really separates him from the rest of the pack."

"His heart, his energy, and the intangibles that he brings to the game. Matt brings a lot to the table. Sometimes they don't show up on the stat sheet, so that's the hardest thing to replace," he added.

Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arrespacochaga also praised Tio. "He's doing his role. That's the role given to him and is expected of him. Think about it, that's a big responsibility stepping in for a player like Matt [Nieto] but that's what the team needs to do. We trust in him also. He's stepping up and he's doing his job."

Tio is actually grateful to the Ateneo coaching staff for trusting him, and he repays them by performing well. "I'd like to thank the coaches for having the trust in me. If they didn't have the trust in me, I won't be that confident on the floor. I'd like to say thanks to them and it starts with them so, because they gave me their trust, I have to perform for them."

Will fans see this kind of performance from him in the next games? "Hopefully," he said. — RSJ, GMA News