NASH Racela really sought Matty Erolon to be the one on the line when Adamson was on the driver’s seat against National University on Saturday.
“We actually want him. He was one of the guys [that we were looking at to be the free throw shooter]. That’s why we made that substitution because we knew [NU was] just gonna foul,” the former UAAP champion coach said.
READ: Mark Parks saves the day as NU books UAAP S88 semifinals seat
Leading 65-63 with 15.9 seconds remaining, the Soaring Falcons had a chance to seal the win with Erolon at the charity stripe.
But much to his shock, the Dumaguete-born sniper uncharacteristically muffed both of his attempts and opened up the window for Mark Parks to complete the and-one on the other end as the Bulldogs stole the 66-65 victory.
Shocking as these turn of events may be, Racela charged Erolon’s misses to growing pains saying:
“It’s something that he needs to know. He’ll get there eventually. Next play mentality naman kami lagi.”
Still, in a race as close as the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final Four, the soft-spoken mentor reminded the Soaring Falcons that nothing will come easy for them and they have to be the hungrier one to take the wins.
“We just told our players that as coaches, we’ll always put themselves in position to win games but it’s up to them to really take it. Referees won’t help them, so you just have to play above it,” he said as Adamson makes the quick pivot to University of the Philippines.
“We know that every game, we have a chance. So laban lang kami.”
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