IAN Torres didn’t hesitate. He didn’t think. He just ran, pulled, and let the ball fly - the way he always does on the panalay courts back home.
With seconds ticking down and St. Benilde’s season on the line, it was Torres who rose to the occasion and delivered the goods, finishing with 17 points, two rebounds, two assists, and seven of the Blazers’ last nine points to stun San Beda, 77-75, forcing a do-or-die Game 3.
This includes the game-winning floater to beat the buzzer, eventually giving the Blazers the win and one last chance at making the finals come Sunday.
READ: Torres saves Benilde's season in comeback vs Miller-less San Beda
“Siyempre galing na kami last year dun, so kailangan na talaga namin na ipakita sa kanila na gusto rin namin mag-champion. Naisip ko lang talaga na kapag sumuko ako, siyempre ako yung point guard ni coach, kailangan talaga naming mag-step up,” Torres told SPIN.ph.
“Naging aggressive lang talaga ako sa offense and defense, at naging maayos naman yung game ngayon,” he added.
When the Blazers needed someone to take over down the stretch, the third-year guard asked head coach Charles Tiu if he could take the shots - and Tiu gave him the go signal.
“Hindi ko talaga in-expect na may tiwala talaga siya sa akin. Sabi niya, ‘sige, sa’yo na,’” Torres stressed.
“Nung last second na pinasa ni Allen [Liwag], parang yung mindset ko nun na, may sinabi ko nila kay Coach Charles, na hindi ko na dapat ipapasa. So, inatake ko na, kahit nandoon na sila Tony [Ynot] and Justin [Sanchez] sa backcourt.”
For Torres, the shot wasn’t unfamiliar. It was muscle memory, forged on the dusty courts where he grew up - where pressure isn’t measured by cameras or crowds, but by pride and the scoreboard.
“Bago pa yung game, sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Bakit ako kakabahan? Bakit di ko gawin yung ginagawa ko sa liga sa labas?’ Pareho lang naman, basketball pa rin. Ang iba lang talaga yung pressure. Talagang kailangan ko lang i-overcome yung pressure.”
The moment didn’t come without a bold move off the court. The night after the Game 1 loss, Torres reached out to Tiu to ask if he could start in the do-or-die match.
“Chinat ko si Coach na, ‘Baka pwede naman mag-first five kahit ngayong game lang, kasi do-or-die game na,’” Torres said.
“Para wala akong sama ng loob na hindi ko nabigay yung best ko.”
Even though it was Tiu’s original plan to make him starter, he still entrusted Torres fully to deliver.
“Si Coach Charles naman may itiwala sa akin na kahit na ganun ako. So, hindi ko naman magagawin yun kung wala siyang itiwala sa akin. So, thankful talaga ako kay Coach Charles.”
After a 72-91 loss in Game 1, Benilde found its rhythm because Torres brought the panalay version of himself to the floor.
“Tinambakan kami ng Beda nung game one, tapos ngayon dikit lang, game winner pa,” Torres said.
“Kailangan talaga namin yung composure pa rin sa game.”
With that shot, Benilde keeps its championship hopes alive. For Torres, the reminder is clear: pressure is just another game, whether it’s panalay or the NCAA semifinals - and he knows exactly how to rise.
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