LETRAN head coach Allen Ricardo knew exactly who to turn to when the Knights needed one shot to escape a stubborn San Sebastian side.
With the game tied at 89-all and just 6.7 seconds left, Ricardo put the ball in the hands of 24-year-old sophomore guard Jimboy Estrada.
READ: Estrada makes sure Letran passes San Sebastian's surprise test
The trust paid off as Estrada found his sweet spot on the right flank and knocked down a quick pull-up jumper to lift Letran to a slim 91-89 victory in the second round of the NCAA Season 102 basketball group stage.
The Knights had to dig deep against a Golden Stags side that entered the contest winless, but refused to go away easily until the end.
But when the game came down to its final possession, Ricardo had no doubts about who would take the shot.
“I needed to go to my key player. Kumbaga, pina-practice naman namin ‘yun. No doubt, nu’ng nakita ko na ganun ‘yung defense nila, magbbreakdown ‘yung defense nila kay [Jimboy] Estrada,” Ricardo said.
For Estrada, the decisive possession was not about making a difficult shot under pressure. It was about trusting the man who drew up the play and having enough confidence to take responsibility for the result.
“Sabi ni Coach Allen [Ricardo] na kahit ano mangyari, sa’yo ko ibibigay ‘yung last play. Tinibayan ko lang ‘yung loob ko na kahit anong mangyari, ititira ko,” Estrada said.
With the clock winding down and the game hanging in the balance, he stayed committed to the opportunity Ricardo had promised him.
Asked about the trust required in those moments, Estrada pointed to the belief that had to come from within and extend throughout the team.
“Dapat hindi mawawala ‘yung tiwala mo sa sarili mo eh. Kailangan lang na may confidence ako, may confidence sa akin ‘yung mga teammates ko at tiwala kami sa isa't isa,” he said.
That mutual confidence proved decisive for a Letran team still learning to navigate games without its biggest star and MVP frontrunner, Titing Manalili, who remains sidelined with a sprained right knee.
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