AFTER Game One of the UAAP Season 88 Finals, it seemed like La Salle had every answer for defending champion University of the Philippines.
The Fighting Maroons, however, had other plans and were protecting a two-point lead with 44 seconds left in Game Two on Sunday.
Still, the Green Archers had more than enough time to make something happen and, of course, drew up a play for Jacob Cortez coming off a timeout.
Only, Jacob Bayla and Francis Nnoruka clamped down on the 'Clutch Cat' and forced him to cede the ball to Vhoris Marasigan who, at that point, shot 4-of-15 for eight points.
READ: UP calls on its own Jacob to silence La Salle's 'Clutch Cat'
With the shot clock winding down, Marasigan put up a shot from beyond the arc over the outstretched arm of Harold Alarcon. The ball went in, then out, and not long after, State U set up a winner-take-all Game Three.
“Gusto ko ibalik kay Jacob dapat kasi si Jacob talaga ang gusto kong tumira ng last shot,” Marasigan shared post-game. “[Pero] dine-deny nga siya ni Bayla, hindi ko na nabigay. Kaya ako na lang tumira nung last shot.”
Truth be told, though, it was a good look and it was a good shot. Even with Alarcon contesting, the shooter hailing from Batangas was in rhythm when he rose for what would have been a basket to take the lead.
“Sabi ko naman kay Jacob, nag-sorry din ako kasi dapat talaga sa kanya yung last shot, gusto niya rin sa kanya yung last shot,” he added.
“Pero sapat naman yung oras para mag-create sa akin yung last shot talaga. Maganda naman yung tira ko. 'Di lang talaga pumasok.”
More from Marasigan
That miss could have easily been a career-defining fault for Marasigan to dwell on.
But even with UP supporters backhandedly dubbing him ‘King Maroon,’ the second-year wing isn’t letting any noise seep through, especially with sudden death at hand on Wednesday.
“Siyempre, masakit kasi ako yung tumira ng last shot. Kung pumasok naman yun, blessing na lang din," he said.
"Sabi naman ng team namin na may Game Three pa. 'Di pa naman tapos yung laban. 'Di naman nakakaapekto sa [kumpiyansa] kasi ayun nga, may Game Three pa kaya laban lang.“
What matters most now is to go back to the drawing board and learn from this loss.
As he put it, “Balik kami ensayo bukas. Magfo-focus kami. Gagawin namin kung ano pa yung mga kulang namin, mga pagkakamali namin."
"May chance pa ako para bumawi.“
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
