FORMER PBA player James Martinez erupted for 53 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Phuket Waves fell to the Pathum Thani 361 Pythons, 128-109, at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday morning.

The former player-turned- playing coach Martinez went 21-of-32 from the field while adding 10 assists, three steals, and two rebounds in 40 minutes of play.

Unhurian Vladyslav also had another double-double performance with 26 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists while Wowie Escosio added 16 points, six assists and four rebounds for the Phuket-based team.

“Siguro ito na yung one of the best games sa career ko,” said Martinez, who also played for the University of East in the UAAP.

“Pero siyempre para sa akin, mas okay sana kung nanalo kami. Pero ganon talaga. Basta ibigay mo lang yung best mo every game wala ka ng regret. Atleast dito napapakita ko na kaya ko pa maglaro at nakakapagbukas ako ng pinto sa mga kapwa ko Filipino players, na gusto din maglaro bilang Asian import,” added Martinez.

“Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa mga boss namin na nagtitiwala sina boss Jet Maronilla ng MC Sports, Dennis Chiang of DCG Steel, John Rosagas ng Uratex, Big Boy Lee ng IV Vitamin Bar, Three Points Sublimation at Sprinto Shades of Pawlo Misolas,” added Martinez.

Carl Snyder and Supakorn Saeming led the Pythons’ victory with balanced scoring attack.

Snyder finished with 35 points and 13 rebounds while Saeming added 21 points.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya