WITH a chance to book a UAAP Season 88 final four ticket at hand, University of the Philippines had to face the pesky Adamson University, a team that got one up on them in their previous bout in the first round.
And State U looked more than eager to settle the score as they blew open the game with a 20-8 first quarter performance. But the ever-unyielding Falcons clawed their way back until the Fighting Maroons' once 15-point lead dwindled down to two with four minutes left, 58-56.
That was until Reyland Torres showed up and made sure that there won’t be any upset this time as he scored five in UP’s telling 7-1 run which allowed the Fighting Maroons to solidify their seat in the semifinals.
READ: UP books seventh straight trip to Final Four at Adamson's expense
“Sobrang thankful ko kasi nakatulong ako sa team, pero hindi man natapos lahat doon. Yung mga nangyari noong first half, before that minute na nangyari sa akin yun, siguro marami pang learnings na pwedeng kunin,” he said.
His scoring was just a bonus. Torres’ role has always been to be one of head coach Goldwin Monteverde’s reliable defenders.
But when called upon to step up on the other end of the floor, Torres gladly delivered.
“Siguro lagi sa akin na in-input ni Coach Gold na di porkit na puro depensa lang yung assignment mo. Hindi pwedeng pabayaan mo yung offense mo, kasi ‘di naman nangyayari na sabay,” he said.
“So dapat bigyan mo rin importansya yung offense. So yun siguro na kailangan ko i-work on.”
Still, Torres admits that there’s a whole lot to work on from that end of the court – noting his decisiveness on the offensive end of things.
And with the help of Monteverde, the Negros Occidental native is slowly getting there.
“Minsan mas indecisive ako,” he told SPIN.ph. “Siguro yun yung mas kailangan kong i-work on pa sa sarili ko as a player. More composed, mag-read pa, maayos sa depensa. Siguro mas decisive bawat pangyayari sa offense.”
“Lagi niyang in-input sa amin na stay ready kasi every game is parang championship para sa amin. Lagi niya sinasabi sa amin na pano kung ‘yan na yung championship talaga na laban? Paano mo harapin na mayos? Paano ka mag-i-ready?”
“Being always ready is a habit talaga. Sabi niya lagi sa akin. Hindi man sa basketball kung ‘di sa totoong buhay. Kung may babato sa inyong problema or challenge sa buhay niyo, paano ka maging ready at bigyan na solution.”
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