THREE SEASONS of waiting finally gave way to a game Peter Osang could call his own.
Long stationed behind foreign big men Mo Tounkara and Collins Akowe in the UST Growling Tigers’ rotation, Osang finally made his presence felt as he powered the Tigers past the UE Red Warriors, 97-70, in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The big man made every minute count, posting 19 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks to deliver a performance that had long been waiting to break through.
Behind his breakout outing were seasons of staying patient, putting in the work and refusing to let limited opportunities define his place on the team.
“I cannot even express how I feel right now,” Osang told The Flame. “But the mentality I have now is to keep on working and staying ready.”
Years of waiting have given Osang a different perspective on the game, one that goes beyond the minutes he spends on the floor.
“I have the mentality of ‘never quit.’ Never give up, and I know I’m always gonna have a chance,” he said.
“There is a lot for me to learn about in basketball, and it’s not just about playing basketball,” he added.
With the Tigers still chasing a Final Four berth, Osang’s timely performance gives another boost to the squad looking to sustain its late-season push.
Still, Osang knows the Tigers cannot afford to let their latest win get to their heads despite Akowe expected to return to the lineup for a must-win match against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 15.
“We need more defense, we need to play together, which we did. We need more energy like today,” he said. F -with reports from Michael Luke Ezekiel Bechaida
