Dylan Ababou: Once a shooter, always a shooter

Photo by Marlon Bernabe

MANILA -- While his coach wants him more as a defensive option, sophomore Dylan Ababou could not resist the lure of taking shots when an opening arises.

During their 86-69 win over San Mig Coffee Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum, Ababou saw that opening in one play and took a perimeter shot.

“Hindi pumasok unang tira ko pero ok lang kasi nakita ko na open ako,” said Ababou.

Fielded in by coach Ato Agustin early in the third quarter, the offensive-minded Ababou was initially tasked to defend San Mig’s top scorer James Yap.

“May depensa din si Dylan at nakikita namin yun,” said Agustin during the postgame chat with media.

Months after being sidelined by an ACL injury, Ababou showed flashes of that defensive brilliance when during an elimination round game against Air21 last Governors’ Cup, Ababou guarded Express import Zach Graham who went 0-4 against the former UST Tiger.

Along the way though, Ababou had to settle for crumbs in terms of playing time which went mostly to resident superstar Mark Caguioa and the improving Chris Ellis.

Instead of whining about the situation, Ababou took it as a challenge and continued his process of recovering from the ACL injury along with regaining the confidence that once made him a UAAP Most Valuable Player.

“Nung pinasok ako ni coach, wala naman siyang ibang sinabi sa akin kungdi bantayan ko si James Yap. Ready naman ako anytime kasi kahit hindi ako ginagamit tuloy pa din stretching ko kahit nasa bench ako para anytime ready ako,”  said Ababou.

But when he connected back-to-back baskets, Agustin gave Ababou an added assignment.

“Sinabi na ni coach na basta open, itira ko na. Dun gumanda na kumpiyansa ko kasi akala ko talaga hindi na ako gagamtin sa game dahil nga after first half naghahabol kami,” said Ababou.

In 17 minutes of action all in the second half, Ababou contributed 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting (3/6 3FG) in a scoring frenzy that rubbed off on teammates LA Tenorio and Jay-R Reyes on their way to outscoring San Mig in the second half, 52-17.

Before the start of the season, Ababou was nearly traded to Barako for the number four overall pick but management and the coaching staff eventually decided to give the former UAAP MVP another chance to prove himself as a Gin King.

The morning of Draft Day, Ginebra decided to part ways with Rico Maierhofer and enforcer Willie Wilson instead of Ababou for that Barako pick.

However Ababou still felt that playing time will be scarce this season as he was used sparingly, mostly as plain reliever to their established wingmen during their tuneup games.

“Naramdaman ko nga malayo ako sa rotation. Pero masaya naman ako dito, hanggang maari nga wala na dapat ma-trade maski si Rico and Willie kasi masaya talaga kami dito. “Said Ababou.

Despite the impressive opening day performance, Ababou simply guarantees to be always ready when tapped to play.

“Ready lang ako palagi. Kung ano ibigay ni Lord sa akin alam ko darating din naman yun. Sa practice ibibigay ko lagi best ko na parang Game 7 yung paghahandaan ko,” said Ababou.