Migs Palanca hopes to bring the lessons he’s learned from import Collins Akowe as he joins NU in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament.
While he will enter UAAP Season 88 as a college freshman, Nazareth School-NU big man Migs Palanca knows that the time he spent with Collins Akowe has left him with valuable lessons he will bring as a rookie within Jeff Napa’s NU Bulldogs squad.
Palanca, a six-foot-seven forward, is a welcome addition to the Bulldogs’ frontline led by local bigs PJ Palacielo and Kenshin Padrones. After all, Napa has made it a priority to beef up their frontcourt with local bigs, especially after an opening-day injury to Malian center Mo Diassana during the Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
As he prepares for the collegiate level of play, Palanca made sure to acknowledge the help he’s gotten from Akowe, a six-foot-ten center who has dominated the UAAP Boys’ Basketball Tournament since Season 86.
When going up against a force like Akowe, being a traditional big man simply won’t cut it, according to Palanca, given that his sheer size and finesse make it difficult to operate inside the paint.
“Ang laki na development kasi before wala si Collins, more on nakatambay ako sa ilalim. Ngayon na si Collins sa practice, mapipilitan na ako mag-stretch, so kailangan ko gawin yung extra na focus ako sa shooting,” Palanca explained to The GAME on Thursday, while confirming his commitment to Napa’s Bulldogs.
Palanca was a reliable backup to Akowe throughout the Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, averaging 9.14 points, 7.43 rebounds, and 1.79 rejections during the Bullpups’ elimination round showing.
Despite the Bullpups settling for another silver medal finish, the six-seven big made sure to go down swinging in Game 3, finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds to keep his squad afloat against the fiery Tiger Cubs.
Facing college-level big men won’t be any easier, but Palanca knows that he’s putting in the work to grow into a point forward, all thanks to facing Akowe in the Bullpups’ practices.
“First group siya, second group ako. So talagang magkalaban kami, alam ko kung paano siya laruin, pero sabi nga nila iba-iba, kasi may FSA na matigas katawan,” he explained. “Alam ko din paano tumira sa labas. Parang pinilit ko kasi magpapaka-shooting e kasi pag-penetrate nang penetrate ako di ko kaya si Collins talaga, matigas talaga e.“
Not to mention, there are also the likes of two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao and reigning Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre, two impressive point forwards themselves at the collegiate level.
“Ini-idolo ko rin sila KQ, sila Pre. Big man sila pero hindi sila nago-operate sa ilalim, sine-stretch sila lang yung floor, ginagamit nila IQ nila. Yun ‘yung nilu-look forward ko rin sa college na kung ma-upgrade ko pa laro ko sa tres,” he said.
Sense of familiarity
In committing to NU, Miguel Palanca is joining a team hungry for redemption, especially after Diassana’s freak injury derailed their campaign in the Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
It’s a new team, yes, but there is some form of familiarity between Palanca and the Bulldogs, starting with head coach Napa.
“Doon sa NU, alam ko naman sinong coach sa college, tumutulong sa amin si Coach Jeff. Alam ko naman, ano intentions niya sakin para mag-grow, mag-mature. Nakita ko naman sa college na, ano, yung environment doon, same lang sa juniors. Iba lang ng dorm, but same lang ng court and nag-aabot kami sa ensayo, nag-uusap kami,” he said, with Napa being one of head coach Kevin De Castro’s deputies in the Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
“Di masyadong close [personally], pero may familiarity, so pagdating sa court niyan, ‘di na masyado maga-adjust…Siguro konti kasi alam kasi alam naman natin, ibang basketball sa college, ibang basketball sa juniors, maga-aadjust lang ako. Pag-akyat ko sa school ko, rookie year na naman, focus muna ako sa learning.”
Seniors Steve Nash Enriquez, Jake Figueroa, and Steve Nash Enriquez will be leading the Bulldogs’ Season 88 campaign, along with now-sophomores Tebol Garcia and Season 86 Boys’ Basketball MVP Reinhard Jumamoy.
Along with the reality check he’s gotten from Akowe, Palanca vows to bring his will to win, especially with the high standards expected by the NU community and his teammates.
“‘Yung NU alam naman natin ano ‘yung winning culture dyan. Ayaw na mga taong yan nagpapatalo, so ‘yun mahe-help ko sa kanila siguro. Sabi nga ni Coach Jeff dagdagan ‘yung bala sa college para makakakalaban talaga kami. Lalo na ngayon, daming na injured,” Palanca concluded.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.