NCAA: LEAGUE’S TOP REBOUNDER JHUNIEL DELA RAMA SHOWS SCORING TOUCH IN SAN SEBASTIAN’S UPSET OF LETRAN

Known for crashing the boards, Jhuniel Dela Rama showed he can score too.

The rookie forward, who stands at just 6-foot-2, currently leads the NCAA Season 101 in rebounding with a total of 110 boards so far for an average of 12.2 per game as he continues to dazzle for San Sebastian College-Recoletos. 

But in their latest outing against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, he tweaked his game and revealed a new dimension of his game: his scoring ability.

Dela Rama, a product of the Letran Squires program, dropped 20 points against his high school alma mater, none bigger than the game-winning in-and-out jumper that lifted the Stags past the surging Knights, 82-81. 

For Dela Rama, though, it was just a matter of giving back to the school and the coaching staff that have been giving him the key to lead this young Stags squad. 

"Siguro dahil sa size nila, feel ko hindi na ako makaka-rebound. Nag-adjust na lang ako sa offense ko kasi mas kailangan namin na umi-score kasi nakaka-rebound naman ‘yung mga bigs namin," Dela Rama shared.

"Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na binigyan nila ako ng trust tapos ginawa ko lang ‘yun para mag-give back sa kanila."

(I think because of their size, I felt like I couldn't grab a rebound. I adjusted instead on offense because we needed scoring more since our bigs were able to rebound... It feels so good to be given that trust then I was able to do that to give back to them.)

But for head coach Rob Labagala, it was no surprise to see his first-year standout take that brave shot agains the defense of Mark Denver Omega. 

"That play was designed by Coach Melo (Banua). Pinagusapan namin na gusto namin i-design for Jhuniel, an isolation play para sa kanya and good thing he was able to knock it down," Labagala said. 

"That guy deserves ‘yung shot na ‘yan and ‘yung moment na ‘yan because he’s a hardworking guy."

(That play was designed by Coach Melo. We spoke about wanting to design it for Jhuniel, an isolation play for him and good thing he was able to knock it down... That guy deserves that shot and that moment because he's a hardworking guy.)

—JMB, GMA Integrated News

This article NCAA: League’s top rebounder Jhuniel Dela Rama shows scoring touch in San Sebastian’s upset of Letran was originally published in GMA News Online.