Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard Adrian Nocum will be making his Gilas Pilipinas debut at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan. And he’s sure to bring his “banat lang” mindset to the international stage.
Nocum and ‘Banat Lang’
Nocum has often used “Banat lang!” in social media, and it loosely translates to “just do it” or “go hard.” The phrase, incidentally, describes the Tondo native’s basketball style, as the explosive guard is known for bringing it every game and going hard from end to end. Now, he is excited to bring his go-hard approach to Gilas.
“Excited lang talaga ako and kung ano ‘yung maipapakita namin. Excited mag‑compete, kumbaga ‘yun nga ‘banat lang’, and siyempre enjoy lang din,” said Nocum in an online press conference hosted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
The 27‑year‑old guard also mentioned how thankful he is to be part of the roster, vowing to do the best he can in every game he suits up for.
“Unang-una, siyempre nagpapasalamat ako na napasama ako dito and excited din… Ibibigay ko lang ‘yung best ko every game, kung ano ‘yung maitutulong ko sa team and ayun, excited lang makipag‑compete sa mga ibang lahi,” he said.
Difference in the Level of Competition
While excited, the Rain or Shine guard acknowledged that he’ll be in for a different level of competition in the Asiad. Still, he maintains he’d be ready, even if he’s called on to play the point.
“Ah ayun nga, siyempre iba yung laro dun sa PBA, iba ‘yung laro dito sa international,” he said. “Nakita namin ‘yung video kanina talagang madiin sila dumipensa, madiin sila prumessure so siguro malaking bagay din na kahit papaano na‑experience ko ‘yung pagiging point guard so baka mag‑point [guard] din ako dito.”
Nocum and his Gilas teammates experienced some of that recently, losing a pair of tune-up games to the South Korean national team in South Korea. Both losses were blowouts, but Nocum gave a good account of himself in each game, scoring 10 points in Gilas’ 81-55 loss on Friday and 9 in the nationals’ 69-42 defeat on Sunday.
If anything, the two losses to South Korea proved that this Gilas squad is a work in progress. But it also proved that Nocum, true to his banat lang mindset, will keep playing the only way he knows how: fast paced, full of energy, and nary a fear.
So, yes, banat lang, Adrian Nocum!
