It’s looking like Jonnel Policarpio is next for the NLEX Road Warriors.
The 6-foot-5 forward put up 16 points in NLEX’s 85-84 upset of the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday, leading the Road Warriors’ spirited comeback in the third quarter with a couple of breakaway baskets in transition and then hitting a mammoth triple off an isolation down the stretch to help fend off the comebacking Beermen.
Postgame, NLEX coach Jong Uichico admitted to calling the iso for Policarpio, telling reporters jokingly that he did so because “hindi siya marunong mag-pick and roll.” Turning serious, Uichico later on admitted that he trusts his young wing as he does his other players to make plays for NLEX.
Jonnel Policarpio Rewards Jong Uichico’s Trust
On Wednesday against the Beermen, Jonnel Policarpio showed such trust is well deserved, playing one of his best games ever for the Road Warriors, which he punctuated with that pull-up three on the iso in the endgame.
“‘Yung tiwalang binibigay sa ‘kin ni Coach Jong, and lalo na si Kuya Bert (Robert Bolick). Every practice sinasabihan niya ko na gawin mo lang ‘yung best mo [every time] nasa loob ka ng court. Pag nasayo ‘yung bola, isipin mo ipuntos mo. And ‘yung confidence ko sobrang laki…,” Policarpio said during the same postgame presser.
That confidence was on full display again in that huge triple he hit, which came with just under four minutes remaining and San Miguel threatening at 79-78. With the game on the balance, Policarpio got the ball near the half-court line, sized up Finals MVP Jericho Cruz, took a few dribbles to the arc, and then fired away with no hesitation.
Policarpio banked it in, and it proved to be the separation NLEX needed to pull off the upset.
Another NLEX Breakout Star?
With his confidence evidently sky-high, Jonnel Policarpio might just be the next NLEX breakout star, following in the footsteps of JB Bahio and Brandon Ramirez, who also played a huge role in the Road Warriors’ season-opening win.
Last season, Bahio and Ramirez started off as virtual nobodies but later on became contributors before ultimately becoming solid starters for a team that showed lots of promise in the season-ending Philippine Cup. Against the Beermen, Bahio and Ramirez played superbly once more and formed a three-headed monster with Policarpio.
Now, Jonnel Policarpio will just have to show that he can consistently play at that high level. He showed he can against the defending champs. There’s no reason he can’t do it over and over in PBA Season 50 and beyond—and maybe even learn how to run the pick-and-roll.
