WITH a Hail Mary to force overtime and another one for the victory, Adamson’s 97-96 come-from-behind triumph over University of Santo Tomas was nothing short of an answered prayer for Nash Racela.
READ: Erolon, Montebon, Torres show way in Adamson OT shocker over UST
Quite literally, Racela admitted to being on his knees in the last five ticks of regulation before Mathew Montebon’s equalizer and the 2.6 seconds preceding Matty Erolon's game-winner in extra time.
The oft-composed Soaring Falcons mentor said a little prayer or two, hoping that some sort of late intervention from the basketball gods can save them from what Montebon described as ‘a game that felt out of reach.’
“I was just praying on the sidelines. Ano kayang pwedeng [hilingin] ta’s sabi ko, 'Lord, tulungan mo kami,’” he shared with reporters after their eight-point comeback in the last 30 seconds of the fourth quarter.
“Even after a shot, even after an attempt, I was praying 'Lord, papasukin mo na.’”
And behold, the higher being did let it go in time and again, while also letting Adamson barge into the Top 4 following a four-game sweep of the Growling Tigers and University of the East.
Yes, after a 1-4 start to the season, San Marcelino is well within the playoff picture - just as it has always been in Racela's tenure.
What also made Racela heave a sigh of relief later on apart from his own answered ‘Hail Marys’ against UST was how his Soaring Falcons somehow managed to hit the right notes in the end despite being out of tune in the second half.
“I went back to the first round, sabi ko nu’n na kung paano namin tatalunin yung UST, I think the only way is kung nakatono kami,” he added, as he and his wards led by as much as 10 in the third quarter.
“I think today, wala. We were out of tune today, so it really was a struggle. Sabi ko ngayon, paano kami mananalo? And I think it was all God.”
Adamson's total team effort
Of course, it wasn’t just faith that played part in the Adamson’s grind-out win for the ages.
It took everything and everyone and more to turn a lost cause into renewed hope.
And as the old adage goes as far as faith and prayers are concerned, nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.
“It’s good that our players played for each other, something that we always preach,” said Racela.
“I thought in some moments of the game, nagsasapawan kami, ayaw ipasa. They'll end up just taking a challenge shot or a stepback (shot), but in the end, they made the right plays. Our power players made the right plays."
Indeed, Montebon's overtime-forcer came off an Earl Medina pass, just as Montebon actually set up Erolon for the game-winner.
Just as the higher being answered Racela's prayer, so did his boys answer his call of extra passes and right plays.
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