Despite clutch play, Evan Nelle vows to play better for La Salle
MANILA, Philippines—Evan Nelle may have delivered the clutch three-pointer that saved La Salle from the upset ax of Adamson but he was far from satisfied with his game.
Despite his heroics, Nelle cited his need to improve on his playmaking which includes taking care of the ball better heading into the second round of the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament.
Nelle’s crucial triple helped La Salle escape Adamson, 61-58, on Saturday to end the first round on a winning note at Mall of Asia Arena.
“I feel that I already adjusted, but I don’t think this is a good game, cause in the stats I had three turnovers, and one assist. I feel I got outplayed by Jerom Lastimosa, so I don’t count this as a good game,” said Nelle, who had 12 points off four triples to go with three rebounds and two steals.
“I just made a big shot, that’s why it looks like a good game,” he added.
The transferee point guard from San Beda averaged 7.8 points on 23% shooting from deep, 1.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals in 25 minutes in his first six UAAP games.
The 5-foot-10 guard admitted he could still be way better in terms of running the Green Archers’ offense.
“Honestly, I’m playing bad. I think I’m putting too much pressure on myself, thinking too much. Like what coach is saying, I should just let the game come to me. I shouldn’t force anything, I should get my teammates involved,” he said. “The past few games, I mean the whole first round, I don’t think I ever reached five assists.”
Good thing, La Salle won five of its first seven games for third place in the first round despite Nelle’s struggles.
Nelle was a vital part of San Beda’s NCAA Season 95 campaign where he averaged 10.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.4 steals in 31.5 mins before he transferred to La Salle in 2020.
Entering the second round, Nelle vowed to address his lapses and regain his fine play and do better in involving his teammates.
“That’s something I need to work on. I need to run the offense more, and lessen my turnovers,” he said.