BY ABBY TORALBA
PLAYING in a do-or-die game, newly-minted NCAA MVP Will Gozum of College of St. Benilde said former Blazers star and 2002 winner Sunday Salvacion motivated him to lead the team to fight another day.
“Nakausap namin sila noong isang araw, minotivate nila kami para maging ganito iyong laro namin. Thankful ako sa pag-support nila sa amin,” Gozum, who tallied 49.88 players’ average value (PAV) on an average of 16.85 points, 9.75 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.05 blocks per game in the season, said.
“For me, si kuya Sunday, iba talaga iyong nagawa niya so hopefully magawa ko rin and mahigitan ko rin si kuya Sunday,” he added.
CSB got back at reigning two-time champion Letran, scoring a 76-71 decision in Game 2 last Sunday to forge a winner-take-all tiff for the 98th NCAA basketball tournament title.
Gozum said while he savors becoming the third Blazer to bag the coveted plum after Salvacion and Jay Sagad in 2005, his goal is to guide the Taft-based crew back to the Promised Land.
Game 3 is set on Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Focused lang kami kasi kapag inisip ko iyong award, feel ko mawawala. One game at a time lang kami, iyong team gusto naming manalo” Gozum said.
“Gusto talaga naming makuha iyong Game 2 para may chance pa kami and siyempre alam namin na uuwi sila JC (Cullar) and iyong mga seniors namin na malungkot so give lang kami ng best namin lagi.”
Gozum, 23, who was also named to the Mythical Team and All-Defensive Team, said they are raring to end CSB’s 22-year title dry spell.
“Sobrang thankful kami dahil magkakaroon pa ng Game 3 sa Ynares and hopefully makuha namin iyong kampeonato. Para sa akin, mas maraming sasaya kapag nakuha naming iyong championship,” he said.
