When a championship is on the line, players tend to rise to the occasion. You have your stars who showcase their championship experience and their tendency to thrive in the biggest moments. And then you have players that step into roles either by their own accord or due to the prevailing circumstances. The latter was the case for Doy Dungo in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 Finals. 

In the 15 games prior to the finals, Dungo was averaging 5.1 points and converting on just under 40 percent of his field goal attempts. Game 1 was a tightly contested affair where UP was eager to create some separation by riding the hot hand of Harold Alarcon, but Dungo got hot early and helped keep the DLSU Green Archers in stride with the UP Fighting Maroons. 

Dungo’s shooting helped spread the floor to allow him to quickly draw fouls off his defenders. The sophomore’s perfect first quarter was critical for LaSalle as it allowed the likes of Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, Luis Pablo, and Vhoris Marasigan to ease themselves into the game. After a nine-point first quarter, Dungo would score six points the rest of the way, but by that time, it was Cortez and the rest of DLSU who swooped in to help the Green Archers move within a win of their second UAAP championship in three years. 

In just two years with LaSalle, Dungo has earned the trust of DLSU head coach Topex Robinson. Robinson has not really relied on Dungo for scoring, although he has been a steady source of 3-pointers. However, the Pampanga native has done whatever was asked of him, whether it was sharing the defensive duties of guarding the best players on the opposing team or staying ready in the wings for an open shot. 

With the bevy of talent the Green Archers have, it’s normal for players to get lost in the shuffle and eventually seek greener (no pun intended) pastures. Dungo has managed to stay above that and working within the system rather than forcing the issue on offense has been a big reason for his minutes this season. Those that play the right way and respect the game tend to be rewarded with opportunities to succeed. Dungo has made the most out of his opportunities and he has turned in one of his finer performances when LaSalle needed it the most. 

Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 Finals will likely see a UP FIghting Maroon squad that will be raring to even the series and with the way Doy Dungo performed in Game 1, he will likely be seeing more defensive pressure coming his way. It’s not something that will faze Dungo, who has come in and done the work, not expecting anything more than the opportunity to play. And if the Fighting Maroons take him for granted, best believe he will make them pay and it could cost them dearly.