Llemit and Acido Make Their Case for the UAAP’s Best Duo

As the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament enters a crucial stretch, with several teams battling for a spot in the Final Four, the UST Growling Tigers remain in contention, sitting fifth with a 5-6 record following a much-needed win over the FEU Tamaraws last Sunday.

With so much on the line, the España-based squad looks to two of its key players, Mark Llemit and Amiel Acido, to lead the charge.

This isn’t a matter of blind faith. Rather, it is trust built on results. Let’s take a closer look at just how much the two have delivered for the ones in gold, and how important their contributions will be moving forward.

As seen in the graph, UST’s duo is anything but ordinary. Llemit and Acido currently rank second and third, respectively, among the tournament’s leading scorers. Llemit is averaging 16.3 points per game (PPG), while Acido follows closely with 15.8.

What’s even more impressive is how efficiently they’re putting up those numbers. Using an advanced metric called true shooting percentage (TS%), which measures scoring efficiency by accounting for a player’s two-point field goals, three-pointers, and free throws, Llemit records a 57.4 TS%, while Acido follows with an equally remarkable 59.4 TS%.

Imagine that: both of UST’s star players are scoring and operating at efficiency levels well above average. To be more precise, Llemit and Acido rank in the 97.9th percentile in both categories, placing them ahead of roughly 98% of the rest of the UAAP.

If these numbers are a little hard to wrap your head around, this graph should paint a clearer picture.

Among each team’s top-scoring duos, UST’s pair stands a cut above the rest. At this point, it shouldn’t be difficult to argue that they can be considered the league’s best tandem.

That’s what the numbers tell us. But beyond the stats, it would also be worth hearing from the players themselves.

Trusting the Grind

Phenomenal results don’t come without phenomenal hard work, dedication, and consistency in improving one’s game.

For Acido, the work he put in leading up to the tournament played a crucial role in shaping the player he is today.

“During that offseason, talagang trinabaho ko yung role ko, yung mga ginagawa ko sa loob ng court. Yung skills ko, more on situational talaga yung wino-work out ko, kaya siguro mas naging effective yung ginagawa ko,” he shared in an exclusive interview. 

That hard work has clearly paid off, as reflected in his production today.

Looking at his shot chart this season, Acido is shooting above average from almost every area on the court. A perfect example of what he’s capable of came in that second-round matchup against FEU, where he was efficient from virtually every spot he took a shot at. He finished the game with an effective field goal percentage (eFG%) of 76.9%, a metric that accounts for the added value of three-pointers when measuring overall field-goal efficiency.

Acido doesn’t take all the credit, though. He also recognizes the people who helped him reach this level.

“Shoutout na rin talaga sa True Focus kasi sila yung tumulong sa akin, yung mga coaches ko dito sa UST, sila yung nag-guide sa akin.”

Llemit, on the other hand, approaches his production with a different mindset.

“Parang ginawa ko lang yung best ko na para makatulong ako sa team. Yan lang talaga yung goal ko—to help my team win,” he shared.

His commitment to helping the team is reflected in the way he performs on the court.

A closer look at his shot chart shows just how capable a three-level scorer Llemit is. Serving as more of a primary ball handler for the Growling Tigers than Acido, Llemit carries a slightly higher usage rate at 23.2%, compared to Acido’s 22.2%. He has demonstrated his ability to create his own shots, whether pulling up from beyond the arc, finding openings in the midrange, creating separation out of the pick-and-roll, or driving to the basket.

At 6-foot-3, his size and frame also give him an advantage in different matchups. He has the strength to back down smaller defenders and the quickness to get past bigger opponents, making him a versatile offensive threat.

As two of UST’s biggest offensive threats, playing alongside each other seems to have made things easier for both players.

For Acido, having someone he’s known and worked with for quite some time makes a significant difference.

“Sobrang saya kasi lagi kaming magkasama niyan. Practice pa lang, skills training, lagi kaming magkasama niyan.”

“Syempre, sobrang saya na nakikita yung mga pinaghirapan nga namin is nagiging effective, nagbubunga. Sobrang thankful ako kasi nandiyan siya, gina-guide niya rin ako, binibigyan niya ako ng kompiyansa. So, very grateful ako kay Mark.”

Meanwhile, Llemit is quick to recognize not only Acido’s abilities but also the talent surrounding him throughout the team.

“Lahat naman yung mga kasama ko may mga talent din. Thankful din ako lalo na kay Amiel. Sobra, sobra, sobra, sobrang skilled niya na player din.”

Their emergence as better players this season has also come at a timely point, following the departures of former Growling Tigers Nic Cabañero, Forthsky Padrigao, and Kyle Paranada.

With those departures came the responsibility of filling the gaps left behind. For Llemit and Acido, however, they seem to have found their own ways of answering that call.

Being a Leader

One of the most lasting things people leave behind when they move on is the impact they’ve had on those around them.

For Acido, that impact comes in the form of the lessons their former teammates passed on to them.

“Unang-una, nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila kasi after their final run dito sa UST, madami na silang naturo sa amin, madami na silang mga ideas na ibinigay sa amin.”

With the responsibility of leadership now falling on him and Llemit, Acido also shared how the two have approached this new role.

“Itong leadership namin ni Mark, parang hindi naman na siya ganon kalaking adjustment since medyo familiar na rin kami sa ginagawa namin. Ang parang ginagawa namin is more on words of wisdom, kung paano makuha yung kumpiyansa ng [mga] players.”

Of course, the Growling Tigers have plenty of talent beyond their two leading scorers.

Leading the way is last season’s Rookie of the Year and one of the frontrunners for Best Foreign Student-Athlete, Collins Akowe. He is averaging 14.5 points per game, the fifth-highest mark in the league, while leading the UAAP in rebounding with 13.2 boards per game.

Then there’s Landyn Jumawan. Currently averaging 10.8 points per game, Jumawan has emerged as another explosive scoring option for UST. He ranks second in the league in three-pointers made per game, knocking down 2.5 on average. Who’s first? None other than Acido himself, who sits just ahead with 2.6 per game.

The Growling Tigers also have reliable options in Koji Buenaflor, Kirk Cañete, and Andrew Chio. Gelo Crisostomo would have been another valuable piece for UST, and hopefully, he makes his return. Still, with the talent currently available, the Tigers have plenty to work with as they push for a Final Four spot.

Llemit, meanwhile, believes leadership starts with leading by example. As he shared earlier, he makes it a point to give his best whenever he steps on the court, hoping that his teammates will follow suit.

“Ginawa ko lang yung best ko, lalo na yung kung ano yung binigay na opportunity ng mga coaches ko.”

“Kausapin lang namin yung mga kasama namin na siguro ganun lang din—gawin namin yung best namin.”

Beyond individual effort, Llemit also touched on the importance of the trust shared by everyone in the squad, regardless of their experience within the team.

“Parang lahat kami kaya mag-step up. Lahat kami, lahat ng player, parang yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa, same lang kahit veteran o rookie.”

Ultimately, while Llemit and Acido have established themselves as two of UST’s biggest weapons, their influence within the team could prove just as important to the team’s campaign.

With just three crucial games remaining in the elimination round, how will the Growling Tigers respond?