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Sam Eman personifies Alaska’s We-Not-Me approach

Alaska Aces center Sam Eman. (Photo courtesy of www.alaskaaces.com.ph)
Alaska Aces center Sam Eman. (Photo courtesy of www.alaskaaces.com.ph)

Alaska’s Sam Eman always wears earphones while warming-up before games. I can understand how star players block out pre-game distraction by focusing on their favorite tunes. Last season, however, I often wondered, “What on earth is Sam listening to if he expected to play less than 6 minutes per game?”

Things are different nowadays. This season, the songs Sam listens to – from Avicii’s Wake Me Up to Francis Magalona’s Kaleidoscope World to Calvin Harris’ Blame to David Guetta’s Play Hard – now serve a stronger purpose. Through six games in the PBA Philippine Cup, his average minutes per game has more than doubled from last year and he’s averaging a career-high 1.17 blocks per game.

Sam listens to songs before games to seek inspiration, to keep him going. Now I understand why. He looks more inspired in 2014. He has found renewed reason to keep going for more. He’s rocking on not because he’s scoring 20 points per game but because he’s contributing in many specific ways – in Rafi Reavis style - to a still undefeated team.

MH: I think many people have noticed that compared to last year, mas marami kang minutes ngayon. Paano nadagdagan yung playing time mo?

SE: Well, sa sistema kasi ni Coach (Alex Compton) kailangan fresh lahat eh. Dahil puro takbuhan kami, ginagamit lahat ni coach until the 14th player. Para fresh yung first 5. Para fresh yung second 5. Para matulungan din namin sila. Sinabi din niya sa akin after the (previous) conference na bibigyan niya ako ng role kaya ngayon bago na sistema namin and lahat ng player nakakalaro. At least may productive ako na nagagawa kahit na depensa lang yun.

MH: Ano ba yung specific role na binigay sa’yo ni Coach Alex?

SE: Sinabi niya sa akin to be more like Rafi Reavis kasi diba ang tagal na ni Rafi Reavis sa PBA. He’s not a scorer but he’s always there on the defensive side. Naiilang yung mga shumu-shoot sa kanya. For me, I’m not there for scoring but more for helping out sa defense pag may breakdown sa drive so I’m the one who’s always helping. Or pag si Sonny (Thoss) na-foul trouble, gaya noong nangyari sa amin against San Miguel, binigyan ako ni coach ng malaking role para depensahan si (June Mar) Fajardo na ang bigat-bigat.

MH: So the league is becoming a league of giants with June Mar, Japeth and Greg. Do you watch them and tell yourself, “Ah kaya ko naman tapatan yan or higitan pa yan”?

SE: Actually hindi ko iniisip na higitan or anything like that. I’m just thinking depensa lang. If I’m playing against them, basta ma-depensahan ko sila, mailang sila sa defense ko, nagawa ko na role ko. Hindi ko na inaasam na ma-iskoran ko sila. Basta darating lang naman yung score eh. Ang importante talaga yung depensa. Ma-i-stop ko lang sila, malaking bagay na sa akin yun.

MH: So in a game, ano yung bagay na nagbibigay sa’yo ng saya? Yung tipong after the game, pag-uwi mo sa bahay, mapapasabi ka na okay maganda yung ginawa ko?

SE: Kapag nakakatulong ako sa teammate at nakakapag-set ng good screen for sila Jvee (Casio) for a 3-point shot or maka-assist ng kaunti or maka-rebound or maka-block or makatulong ng kaunti sa depensa. Diving for loose balls. Hustle points. Yun lang. More on maliliit na bagay masaya na ako. Every time sa game, hindi ko sinasabi sa sarili ko na I should score a lot. Marami na akong teammates na magaling mag-score.

MH: You’ve been in the league since 2007. How do you evaluate your career so far?

SE: Actually parang wala pa talaga akong nagawa eh. Parang feeling ko nga palagi rookie ako.

MH: Was there a time in the last seven years na naging frustrated ka?

SE: Ah oo. Marami. Pero iniisip ko lang lagi sa practice na dapat manalo yung group namin sa scrimmage. I treat practice like actual games. And yung laging sinasabi sa amin ni Coach Alex na get better everyday.

MH: Ang hula ko hindi ka na frustrated ngayon. Tama ba?

SE: Yeah hindi na. Kasi ngayon, every game nakikita ko sa sarili ko na may kaya pala ako gawin. Nabubuhayan ulit ako ng pag-asa. I always think positive kahit may naririnig ako na negative. Even when I’m on the bench, inaaral ko mga kailangan ko bantayan so alam ko na gagawin ko next time. Hopeful ako palagi. Feeling rookie ako every time kasi I build on positive things. Sa side ko, I always challenge myself. Hindi ako kampante palagi. Dapat may challenge ka palagi.