Small but terrible, and that is enough to describe the Pocket Rocket of the Blue Eagles who largely contributed in three of their four consecutive championship runs. Starting out as a third-string guard, Emman Monfort came in the court with energy, occasionally running plays but most of the time fulfills his role of finding open spots. But then, as a rookie, he was not given enough touches and opportunities to rise and shine in his rookie year.
Due to the overload of point guards during Season 71 (Jai Reyes, Chris Tiu, and not to mention team B coach Yuri Escueta), Monfort was relegated to Team Glory Be. However, this did not seem to become a moment of despair for him. Instead, he used this "free period" to get himself ready when the time comes for him to serve as the Coach's Hand when a win is needed.
Destiny put him back in the Blue Eagles' roster when big man Mike Baldos encountered academic problems which had him leaving the team. Coach Norman Black then summoned Monfort to fulfill his duties of playing the point when Jai Reyes rests in the bench. And that decision was something that the fans of the Blue Eagles are happy and thankful about. Monfort's reinstatement did a lot for the team, as he goes improving as the years passed by. From a spot up shooter, he elevated his game and eventually imbibed the team-oriented style of the Blue Eagles, becoming a pass first and shoot later guard.
When the ball is in his hands, he becomes a real threat to the opponent. He knows how to set up for his teammates and give them perfect passes to let them finish the play. And when the going gets tough, he knows how to find his spot from the outside or sneak past the big men of others team for easy lay ups. Seriously, who would forget his perimeter shooting and his three-point bombs, especially the last ones in the UAAP against FEU, the ones that really broke the hearts of the many Gold and Green supporters who hoped a big comeback? Who would forget those big rebounds despite his small five-something frame? And most of all, who would forget the clutch freebies he made against many teams in these past three years, delivering nothing but frowns from teams who got close to beating the Blue Eagles like the Adamson Falcons and the UE Red Warriors? Precisely the things that the Blue Eagles and their supporters will miss from Emman Monfort. Eventually, he lived up to his name, the Pocket Rocket, small and dangerous, and can explode when necessary.
Height would become a big challenge once he steps in the professional leagues, but time and again, small players have proven themselves in the PBA, and Monfort might get his chance to be among those who have done something big despite being small. But right now, he needs to focus on finding his niche in the amateur leagues as a member of the NLEx Road Warriors, playing alongside UAAP Season 73 MVP RR Garcia of the FEU Tamaraws.
Thank you, Emman Monfort. Continue to be big as you were in these last five years in the UAAP.
And here's Monfort calmly sinking his free throws against the Adamson University Falcons during their first round bird fight last Season 73.
Credits to Fabilioh.com for the pic, and ipeh in YouTube for the vide.
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