‘Vitality man’ Shawn Tuano embraces management function as Ateneo gears up for UP

After a breakout sport in opposition to La Salle, Ateneo swingman Shawn Tuano appears to remain constant as one other powerful match awaits the unbeaten Blue Eagles in opposition to defending champion UP

MANILA, Philippines – Getting ready to a monumental collapse in opposition to its archrival La Salle, Ateneo discovered a hero in Shawn Tuano to remain good by means of 4 video games within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball match. 

Coming into final Sunday’s showdown in opposition to La Salle averaging simply 1 level per contest, Tuano stepped up when it mattered most as he was certainly one of three Ateneo gamers who completed with a team-high 15 factors, with 9 of his markers coming late within the fourth quarter after the Inexperienced Archers went on an epic comeback from as many as 33 factors down.  

It was Tuano’s much-needed and-one play for Ateneo on the 3:38 mark of the fourth that put an finish to La Salle’s livid 22-0 rally — the place the Inexperienced Archers reduce a 68-35 deficit into solely a 68-57 drawback.

It was additionally Tuano who finally iced the win for the Blue Eagles with two pressure-packed free throws with solely 8.9 seconds left that settled the ultimate rating at 81-74 on the packed Mall of Asia Area on Sunday, October 5. 

“I simply tried to be a pacesetter on the ground, to compose everybody by means of that loopy run ultimately. I hold telling everybody [to move on to the] subsequent play,” mentioned Tuano.

The Blue Eagles, although, would wish that sort of management once more in a bid to remain good.

A troublesome stretch awaits Tuano and the remainder of the Blue Eagles as they put their spotless 4-0 file on the road in opposition to the defending champion UP Preventing Maroons on Wednesday, October 8, earlier than dealing with the second-seeded UST Growling Tigers on Saturday, October 11. 

Hounded by his free throw taking pictures woes of their first three video games, Tuano was on track from the road in opposition to La Salle, going 7-of-7 from the stripe, whereas additionally taking pictures a near-perfect 4-of-5 discipline purpose clip to achieve his 15 factors in a team-best half-hour of taking part in time. 

Previous to this matchup, Tuano was 0-of-10 from the sphere and was solely taking pictures 37.5% from the free throw line (3-of-8) in Ateneo’s first three victories in opposition to the FEU Tamaraws, UE Pink Warriors, and the Adamson Hovering Falcons.

“I feel simply trusting in my shot and trusting within the work that I put within the offseason, that’s what helped me to have that confidence taking pictures these free throws,” he mentioned.

Tuano’s well timed breakout efficiency could have helped Ateneo survive La Salle’s big scare, however for the third-year swingman, it’s merely about embracing his function and doing no matter it takes to assist the Blue Eagles win. 

“I simply tried to do my function to the perfect of my talents. If I’m the power man, I’m the power man. If I want to attain, I’m going to attempt to rating, if I must play protection, I’ll play protection,” mentioned Tuano. “No matter coach Tab [Baldwin] says or wants me to do on the courtroom, I bought to perform that.” – Rappler.com