UAAP: No rain on Jumamoy’s parade as his time to shine arrives

National University’s Reinhard Jumamoy against University of Santo Tomas in UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball. UAAP Media.MANILA — It took time for Reinhard Jumamoy to find his footing in the UAAP collegiate ranks, but the former high school MVP is now embracing the responsibility of shining as National University’s main gunner.

“Risky lang ako. Sobrang kapal ng mukha ko, pero alam ko sa sarili ko na ito yung ine-ensayo ko,” the Cebuano guard told ABS-CBN News after hitting the game-winning triple in NU’s 87-85 win over University of Santo Tomas in UAAP Season 89 on Saturday.

Now in his fourth year, Jumamoy is showing flashes of the form that made him the first player from NU-Nazareth to win the league’s top individual award in the high school ranks.

The veteran guard is averaging a team-high 13.5 points, along with 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.2 steals through the Bulldogs’ first six games, a significant improvement from his averages of 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in Season 88.

Jumamoy credited his emergence to learning how to play more freely as he received a wider range of opportunities.

“Kung ano lang yung binibigay sa akin, kailangan kong i-grab, so ginrab ko yung opportunity na yun,” he emphasized. “Na no matter what happens, ma-sisi man or good thing yung result, tine-take charge ko lang.”

While Jumamoy acknowledged the struggles he faced in his first three years with the Bulldogs, he said those setbacks should be viewed in perspective.

“Sa lahat ng bagay naman may pressure,” said Jumamoy, who previously served as backup behind former NU lead guards Kean Baclaan and Steve Nash Enriquez. “So sinasabi ko lang sa sarili ko, sa pang araw-araw ko, na thankful naman ako sa pressure. Pressure is privilege, pero yung totoong pressure, yung mga walang tirahan.”

Rather than dwell on those struggles, Jumamoy highlighted the trust that head coach Jeff Napa has continued to show him, saying it helped him stay confident through his earlier years with the team.

“Nilalagay niya ako sa tamang posisyon na mas magiging effective ako,” Jumamoy said of Napa. “Sobrang blessed din ako na may ganito akong teammates and coaches na hindi ako sinukuan.”

Napa and the Bulldogs have been vocal since the preseason about their willingness to go as far as Jumamoy can lead them.

The left-handed guard, however, is more focused on making the most of that trust.

“Ang lagi kong iniisip is just to stay present at the moment,” he stressed. “Binigyan nila ako ng opportunity to grow, so sa akin, grateful lang ako na may chance mag lead ng isang team. Mahirap, pero posible pala.”