By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the Philippines big man Francis Nnoruka continues to establish himself as one of the top foreign student-athletes in the ongoing UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
His career-high 28 point output helped the Fighting Maroons trip the erstwhile unbeaten Ateneo Blue Eagles, 83-69, last Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Mall of Asia Arena.
But the 23-year-old Nnoruka has no plans of slowing down, saying he has to keep on trying and learning to improve his skill set as he intends to help State U to its title retention campaign this year.
“I feel like there’s a whole lot more that I still gotta work on and improve on. Getting familiar with the team and the system that we play,” said Nnoruka, who also posted nine rebounds, four steals and one block in 30 minutes of action.
“So, I feel like I still gotta work more. It’s always a grind, it’s always a grind on the mindset to do better, play better each and every game,” he added.
On Wednesday evening, Oct. 8, the 6-foot-9 Nigerian imposed his will inside the paint to trigger a massive attack that turned things around in their favor. He was ably aided by crafty guards Noy Remogat and Harold Alarcon that enabled the Maroons to notch third straight victory after dropping their first two games.
That onslaught also ended Ateneo’s remarkable four-game winning runn.
“It was a great game and it feels good to win. We’ve worked hard, prepared for this game coming in today,” Nnoruka continued. “We all showed up, my teammates, coaches, and everybody, so we played together.”
Nnoruka lives up to everyone’s expectations as UP is home to some elite FSAs having produced the likes of MVPs Bright Akhuetie and Malick Diouf.
And head coach Goldwin Monteverde appreciated Nnoruka’s drive to gel with the squad, especially his sacrifices and desire to improve the team’s chemistry.
“Improvement wise, malaki na i-improve niya, hindi lang improvement kasi the way he’s really working hard and trying to familiarize himself with the system,” said Monteverde.
“Every day na, I mean, trying to focus on how to work with the team, how to have that chemistry with the team, I think for me, he’s doing fine,” he added.
Nnoruka looks to duplicate his splendid showing when UP shoots for four in a row against Far Eastern University Sunday, Oct. 12, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
