IN a game where it trailed up until the homestretch, University of the East pulled off a late, great escape just as time expired.
Down by one with 12.9 seconds in the final frame, Red Warriors rookie Nico Mulingtapang fought his way through a tight Adamson defense before a last-gasp follow-up from Wello Lingolingo saved the Red Warriors from the jaws of defeat, 63-62.
READ: UE remains red-hot as Lingolingo comes to the rescue vs Adamson
It would give the red-and-white its longest win streak in a decade to end the first round with five wins and two defeats.
Not by design
UE head coach Jack Santiago did admit that the final sequence wasn’t how he and the coaching staff mapped it out.
What turned out to be a late free-for-all first grabbed by the 20-year-old Quezon-born rookie was originally designed for their leading scorer in 6-foot-9 Nigerian Precious Momowei.
“Ang number one instruction ko, first option namin is to give the ball to Precious, but we have options also. Nag-ball screen kami, but ang sinabi ko nu’ng last na pagtira namin, kailangang mag-crash ng boards kami lahat kasi anything can happen,” said Santiago.
“Nangyari nga. Missed shot ni Nico, but si Wello came behind du’n and got the offensive rebound.”
Though the play didn't go as planned, Momowei was nonetheless grateful for Lingolingo for “saving my ass.”
High risk, high reward
Such a brave display was one Lingolingo braced himself for — and so did Mulingtapang who exhibited grace under immense pressure.
And more importantly, the Red Warriors showed heart, more than they ever did in years and seasons past.
“To be honest, pina-practice ni Wello ‘yan eh, ‘yung mga moments na ganyan. Hindi nga lang ‘pag nasa harapan ko kasi alam niyang magagalit ako sa kanya, but at least, binigyan ko sila ng go-signal na you grab the ball and we attack."
Santiago added: “I’ll give credit also to Nico kasi kahit na rookie siya, being a rookie, pero ang lakas ng loob niya. Imagine, talagang inaako niya na ‘akin na ‘to, I'm gonna shoot the ball, whether manalo o matalo.’”
“Yun ang hinahanap ko, ‘yung big heart na ganun ngayong ayaw na magpatalo talaga ng mga players.”
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.
