T-MC Ongotan might have looked like the loneliest man on the court as he trooped to the free throw line all by himself with 11 seconds left, Arellano’s twice-to-beat advantage all in his able hands.
He needed to make both free throws to give the Chiefs a four point lead which would give them the head-to-head point differential advantage over the Mapua Cardinals and break a tie at the second spot.
But he knew he wasn’t alone. He knew that whatever happens, he has a team backing him up and a coach in Chico Manabat who will always trust him to make plays.
“Sa free throw, di na ko na-pressure. Lagi namang sinasabi sa amin ni coach Chico na yung pressure, wag namin bitawan. Yakapin namin,” he said.
Renzo Abiera, his running mate and one of the reasons why Arellano was in this position to begin with, raised his finger up in the air from the other end of the court knowing that their fate is in good hands.
READ: Arellano claims playoff incentive with thrilling win over Mapua
The Arellano bench, a rowdy bunch when the Chiefs were making that rally, sat in silence as they had their arms locked in together – before breaking out in jubilation as Ongotan sank those two pressure-packed free throws with relative ease.
That brotherhood, that tight bond, is the biggest reason why the Chiefs came back from down 3-6 to enter the NCAA Season 101 quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat advantage.
“Hindi lang kami teammates e. Family kami dito e,” Abiera said.
“Grabe yung pinagsamahan namin on and off the court. Especially ngayon na malaki na yung chance namin, palagi na kaming isa. Yun ang maganda samin ngayon. Family na talaga.”
It was a bond forged through adversity. One strengthened by challenges and difficulties.
When they dropped three straight games to fall to 3-6 with four games remaining, it would’ve been easy for the Chiefs to just coast through the remaining games and hope for the best.
But they didn’t. Instead, they kept their eyes on the goal. Grew together as a team, took the journey one step at a time and now here they are.
READ: CSB - Mapua rematch goes early with NCAA playoff picture clear
“Unang una hindi kami sumuko. Sama-sama kami sa goal na pupuntahan namin. Di talaga kami sumuko at pinagtrabahuhan namin sa ensayo,” Ongotan continued.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay lord na di kami sinukuan at nagbunga yung mga sacrifice at tinrabaho namin.”
Abiera also credited his coaches for the continuous trust, noting that said trust as the primary reason why they never lost faith to begin with.
“Yung mga coaching staff namin, grabe yung tiwala samin. Grabe yung pagmomotivate nila samin e,” he said
“Kahit anong mangyari, dapat stick lang kami sa system, sa defense namin, kung ano man mangyari basta mag stick kami sa system namin, yun na yun.”
And with that, the true character of these Chiefs finally showed up – something that Manabat will always be grateful for no matter what happens.
“Maganda itong Season 101. Dito na-reveal at nakita yung character ng team,” Manabat said.
“Yun ang sinasabi namin, at yun ang pinagttrabahuhan nila. Sana madala nila sa quarterfinals.”
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