NIC Cabañero could only chalk up Mark Llemit’s late-game decision to go for a quick layup instead of a game-tying three as one of those heat-of-the-moment errors in judgment.
University of Santo Tomas was on the cusp of completing a stunning comeback from 23 points down when Gelo Crisostomo picked off a misfired inbound from Kirby Mongcopa and immediately fed Llemit with about seven seconds left.
But the third-year guard drove straight to the rim for an easy two instead of pulling up for the three that would’ve tied the game.
READ: FEU endures late UST tear to earn outside chance at Final Four
The Growling Tigers trimmed the deficit to 80-79 with 2.4 seconds remaining, only for FEU’s Jorick Bautista to get sent to the line with under a second left and sink one of two free throws to save a nearly-lost win for the Tamaraws.
“It's part of the game lang din talaga eh,” Cabañero said. “At the end of the day, the players will be the one na magdedesisyon kung anong gusto niyang gawin sa court. Even the coaches are just guiding us.”
While Cabañero praised Llemit’s instinct to cut the deficit quickly with the clock winding down, he admitted that, in hindsight, his teammate should've gone for the tie.
“Maganda naman ‘yung ginawa niya, kaso sadyang lamang lang talaga sila ng tatlo,” he said.
“We got the ball, pero dapat three points din talaga. Ganun talaga. Panalo, talo, it builds our character and kung paano kami mag-bounce back sa Final Four.”
UST still shows up
The scoreboard may not have rewarded the black-and-gold with a win, but it did reveal something more important, even in a non-bearing game: UST’s undeniable hunger to fight until the final buzzer.
And they’ll need exactly that as they brace for second-seeded defending champion University of the Philippines and its twice-to-beat cushion.
“‘Yung final score, points na lang ‘yun ng laro ngayon. Pero mas gusto talaga namin manalo,” Cabañero said.
“It shows our character, kung gaano kami kagutom at kung gaano namin kagustong manalo.”
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