Mangahas could spell difference

If there’s one player that could give Ateneo some headaches in its keenly awaited title series with La Salle, it is James Mangahas.

Mangahas, a third year forward, is enjoying his finest season with the Archers, emerging the third top scorer for the team after the fancied JV Casio (17 points) and Rico Maierhofer (13.1 points).

The 6-3 fourth year Sports Management student has normed 10.7 points and four rebounds in 16 games.

His best performance came in a 67-62 win over the Far Eastern U Tams at the Araneta Coliseum where he churned out a career-high 20 points that sent the Archers into the finals for the second straight season.

“My role in the team is to contribute in whatever way I can whether it’s scoring or playing defense,” said Mangahas, who played high school ball for Philippine Christian U.

Mangahas has indeed turned into a finesse player – can hit the shots on open court, including from behind the arc, and even in tight situations.

“He’s like that, that’s the reason we got him,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren.

But Mangahas said he has still a lot to learn, vowing to play with more consistency in the title series.

“I want to be more aggressive and try to involve and help my teammates more. I also want to be consistent, I know I can do that,” said Mangahas.

Although he scored in double figures half of his 16 games this year, Mangahas also struggled in some games, including a low three-point output in a 62-59 triumph also at the expense of the Tams in their playoff for the No. 2 spot and twice-to-beat advantage last Sept. 11.

But the 22-year-old Mangahas is expected to step up in the championship series, making the Archers a tough rival indeed for the Eagles’ title drive. – Joey Villar