UST’s Amiel Acido. Photo from UAAP Images.
MANILA — The best moments of Amiel Acido's young basketball career have come at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
From winning his first-ever game there back when he was still with the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in NCAA juniors' basketball, reaching the Season 99 Finals and getting Game 2 of that series, up to being named as last year's Season NCAA high school MVP also in the same arena, that particular venue has became the "home court" of the 6-foot-4, Antipolo native.
It has now extended up to his collegiate career with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the UAAP, as Acido had his best scoring game so far on Saturday — one that came as timely as it could get for it helped them punch their ticket into the Season 87 Final Four.
READ: UST dominates Adamson to make Final 4 return after five years
"Na-miss ko talaga maglaro sa court na 'to," said Acido, who fired 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting (4/5 3pts) — eight of which came in the pivotal third quarter of their game against Adamson University.
It was a rare UAAP game day at the San Juan Arena, and the former Junior Altas star admitted that familiarity played a huge part in his outburst against the Soaring Falcons.
"Pinapangarap ko lang dati na maglaro dito. Iba pa rin yung feeling pag naglalaro ako dito. Feel at home talaga ako. Ang taas ng kumpyansa ko, ang fresh ko maglaro," pointed out Acido, whose first game as a Growling Tiger in the offseason also came at the same venue during a preseason tourney.
"Kaya thankful ako kay God na binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na ipakita yung laro ko."
His first year in the UAAP has been a challenge for Acido.
From being the main man of Perpetual only almost eight months ago, Amiel has seen himself mostly on the Tigers bench. Before this game, he averaged 9:38 minutes, 2.69 points, 1.85 rebounds, 0.77 assists, and 0.08 blocks — a far cry from his Season 99 numbers of 17.7 markers, 10.0 boards, 4.1 dimes, a block, and 0.7 steals in his MVP year.
"'Di naging madali yung journey ko eh," he admitted. "Nung high school, big man ako eh. Then pag dating ko ng UST, biglang naging guard ako. Malaking adjustment yun para sa akin."
Fortunately, Acido's new teammates and coaches in España have helped him adjust to the environment of the UAAP.
"Thankfully, andyan yung mga coaches para i-guide ako," he said. "Mentally, dapat prepared ako. Binibigyan nila ako ng advice kung paano mag a-adjust, so malaking tulong sila para sa akin."
Moving forward, and as they head into the Final Four, Acido understands that it will not be as often that they will be playing in San Juan, which is why he is keen on remaining consistent and improving more to slowly live up to his billing as a former MVP.
"I still have a lot to work on," he emphasized. "'Di ako pwedeng ma kontento sa ganto. Pwedeng i-stop na ako ng ibang players, so marami pa akong dapat i-adjust so I'll just keep on working."
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