WITH a ticket to the UAAP Season 88 Finals at stake, La Salle sure had its work cut out for it in trying to bend National U to its will.
For majority of the do-or-die match-up on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum, both squads weren't backing down.
And with just eight seconds left on the clock and the Green Archers clinging to a lead of a solitary point, the fouling game began.
Jacob Cortez kicked things off, splitting his free throws to lift the green-and-white up three, 75-72.
After another La Salle defensive stop, NU then sent Kean Baclaan - himself an ex-Bulldog - to the line to stop the clock.
A lot, most definitely, was at stake, as Baclaan approached the charity stripe – their finals chances getting stronger should he make them, and a shot in the arm for his former team should he miss.
In addition to that, the Green Archers have been infamous as terrible marskmen from the line, and in fact, only hit 58.6-percent of their freebies in this game.
But Baclaan made good on his first, much to the relief of the Taft faithful who were part of the 12,425 in attendance.
The referee lined him up again, Baclaan gave a smirk and took a deep breath before putting up the second free throw.
He hit nothing but net, and the Green Archers' postseason run ultimately reached the big stage after the 78-73 win.
READ: La Salle leashes top dog NU to set up another finals date with UP
With much riding on his trip to the line alongside all the cheers mixed with the boos, the Muntinlupa-born guard kept it more than just composed, he kept it cool.
But how did he keep it collected?
“Tinulungan ako ni Jacob. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Kunin mo yung bola, pauwiin mo sila,’” Baclaan told SPIN.ph.
Cortez’s words weren’t much, but for Baclaan, it was more than enough pep talk for him to get the job done.
“Sa isip ko, talagang kinuha ko yung bola. At siyempre, kumpiyansa lang din na tinira ko yung dalawa na yun. So thankful din ako kay Jacob sa kumpiyansa na yun binigay na sa akin.”
Cortez assist to Baclaan
Energized by the short but sweet words from the 'Clutch Cat,' the 5-foot-7 guard took the challenge of helping La Salle get back on the finals stage - even if it meant eliminating his old alma mater.
“Hindi naman siya bittersweet kasi for me, decision naman namin yun, na lumipat ako ng La Salle. Pero siyempre, basketball 'to eh. May nananalo, may natatalo. This year, kami yung nanalo, and sobrang blessed kong nakabalik ako and makakapaglaro pa ako ng finals,” he said on the heels of his second game back from injury.
And though he is very much entering uncharted waters when the Green Archers clash with their modern-day rivals University of the Philippines for their trilogy of finals bouts, Baclaan will be approaching it like he always does: fearless.
“Walang kaba. Kasi basketball naman yun eh. Bakit ako kakabahan? Eh ito na yung bumubuhay sa akin since nung bata ako,” he said.
“Siguro yung kaba, 'pag naihi ka. Pero hindi naman ako naiihi.”
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