BY NOLI CORTEZ
AS far as Purefoods import Marquin Chandler is concerned,
numbers can be used to gauge a lot of things, in his case determining a player’s
condition.
"Once I score 40, you’ll know I’m back," Chandler said after
making a smashing return to action in the Giants’ 79-78 win against the San
Miguel Beermen last Wednesday.
Despite claiming he hasn’t fully recovered from a strain on
his left knee, the former San Jose State U hitman did a little bit of everything
and boosted the Giants to their first win in four games.
Last year’s best import winner scattered 33 points, grabbed
12 rebounds, issued three assists and pulled off one of his two blocks in the
most crucial of times but refused to take all the credit for himself.
"I just wanted to show we still got the fight," he said,
stressing his teammates did a lot in ending the Giants’ three-game losing skid.
"Everybody on this team, they’re not giving up on us. That’s
why we made the crucial points, got the key stops when needed," he said.
Being back on the court, not on the sidelines, where he was
unable to do anything but give moral support to his teammates, was a welcome
development for Chandler.
"It feels good to be back," said Chandler.
The feeling is shared by his teammates and Purefoods
officials.
"We’re searching for a leader, a hero and a scorer and he
will be all of those for us for the whole conference," Purefoods coach Ryan
Gregorio of his hard-working import.
Chandler claimed he is only about 80 to 85 percent fit,
adding he needs three more weeks to be at 100 percent.
"I’m still struggling with some of my moves but I’ve been
working out hard, getting my strength back," he said.
Chandler’s defensive gem in the endgame prevented the Beermen
from at least forcing overtime.
The Beermen led for majority of the game but blew a 15-point
lead, going without a single basket in the last 3:23 of play. They even had
chances to send the game into an extra period but bungled three field-goal
attempts and two charities in the last 20.3 seconds.
The clincher came when Chandler blocked Dorian Pena’s
follow-up try just before the final buzzer sounded, sending the Beermen to their
fourth straight loss and spoiling coach Siot Tanquingcen’s return at the San
Miguel bench.
For Chandler, that timely block meant more than all his
points combined.
"Even if I score only two points, as long as our team wins, that’s fine by
me," he said.
