San Beda Red Lions head coach Yuri Escueta has been around long enough to know hoops talent when he sees one. After all, he has coached players like Jacob Cortez, who is now plying his trade with the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP, and Bryan Sajonia and Yukien Andrada, who are already in the PBA. Next on Escueta’s list of big names might be UP Fighting Maroons transferee Aldous Torculas.
Torculas has been balling in the NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament, scoring in double figures in five of his first six games with San Beda and averaging a team-high 17.0 per game. He debuted with a 19-point, 7-rebound effort in a 77-68 loss to the Benilde Blazers and then poured in a personal-best 29 points two games later in a statement win over the JRU Heavy Bombers. Then, on Monday, he proved he can be clutch, sending the game to OT and taking over late to tow the Red Lions to a 74-65 triumph over archrivals Letran Knights.
Aldous Torculas Has More to Give, Says Escueta
Escueta is hardly surprised that Aldous Torculas is excelling. But he is measured in his praise of the 6-foot-4 wing.
“Bata pa sa basketball ’to. Nung nasa UP naman ’to, in-out, in-out, so ngayon pa lang siya nakakalaro sa ganitong atmosphere na nasa kanya yung bola,” Escueta said of his prized forward. “Pero ’yun naman ang reason why Aldous is here—to get the experience, the exposure. We know that he can play, and expected naman, the way he is playing right now.”
Torculas is playing well, all right, and Escueta expects even bigger things from the young man. But he also knows the season is young, which means opposing teams will have more than enough time to give the prolific forward different looks on defense.
“He’s been playing well, but malaki pa yung potential ni Aldous to be even better,” Escueta added. “But this season is matagal pa. Makakakita pa siya ng different kinds of defense.”
Escueta is right. Teams will be zoning in on Aldous Torculas a lot more for sure. How he responds could determine whether or not he’s ready to be the next true King Lion.
