JV Gallego almost had his career-defining moment in the closing seconds of National University's game against University of the Philippines on Sunday.
It didn't go as planned.
With the Bulldogs staring at an 89-88 deficit with 7.1 seconds remaining, the returning guard got the rebound off a missed free throw by Javi Gomez de Liano and sprinted to the other end for a shot at a game-winning play.
But rather than take a shot, Gallego opted to pass the ball out to Dave Ildefonso who was left with no time to put up a shot.
"Sobrang disappointed ako," said Gallego after the Bulldogs' fifth straight defeat in UAAP Season 81. "Sabi ko lang na ako na yung kukuha ng bola, so atake ako and then pag may mag-collapse, normal play namin is to kick it out.
"Open ako, pero nakita ko si Dave na open."
"Kung meron lang half-second pa, alam kong mashu-shoot din ni DI. Kung meron lang half-second na natira, siguro we could’ve won the game," he said.
Instead, Gallego chalked up the game to experience as his 13-point, four-assist, three-rebound game while taking over from off-form NU lead playmakers in Enzo Joson and Rev Diputado went down the drain.
"Kailangan mag-step up eh kasi yung mga point guard namin, medyo off sila. So kapag binunot lang ako ni coach, talagang ready lang dapat. So sa tulong ni God, nakapag-perform ako ng maayos at tumaas ang confidence ko," he said.
He is determined to bounce back, heartened by the support shown by his teammates after the loss.
"Pagka-buzzer, nakita niyo naman na lahat ng teammates ko, pumunta sa akin talaga kasi iiyak talaga ako. Pero nandoon sila lahat, lalo na si Issa (Gaye) at si Dave Yu na captain ball namin. Sobrang laking tulong nila for me," he said.
"So sa akin, siguro lesson lang na maging aware lang sa oras at maging mature sa mga susunod na games. Kailangan maging composed lang din."
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