Ferdinand’s one-handed stuff in last Saturday’s preseason match against Ateneo not only drew the oohs and the ahhs from the crowd but it also in a way sends a strong message to rivals that La Salle won’t be pushovers this season. Trailing for most of the time, his dunk was probably the spark the Green Archers needed to ignite a comeback late in the game.
When asked how it felt, Ferdinand said that he was extremely happy since that shot fired-up his teammates and the entire La Salle faithful in the arena. His two foul-shots and putback in the final seconds capped off a remarkable performance for the 4th year center as he finished the game with 11 points.
Ferdinand likewise looks forward to his match-up with Jumbo Escueta in their succeeding battles this year. He acknowledges that the Ateneo rookie is good and he needs to assert himself with his experience and speed.
Let us not forget rookie Luigi Dela Paz who nailed the game-tying trifecta in the 2:18 mark of the fourth quarter. He feels great that he was able contribute to the win and he credits Simon Atkins for giving him that nifty assist.
Dela Paz has been exceptional so far in the preseason. So is he already well-adjusted to the college game? “At the start it was a bit hard for me to adjust, but in every practice and game I gain more confidence.” he said.