Combo guard Ian Torres hit the game-winner to help De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde force a Game 3 in their NCAA Season 101 semifinals series against San Beda University.
However, Torres started shooting his shot even before the game even started.
When the Blazers dropped the first game against San Beda, head coach Charles Tiu said that Torres personally sent him a message to ask if he could start in today’s do-or-die game.
Impressed by the cager’s determination, Tiu gave Torres the nod.
“When we lost the first game, he texted me that he wanted to start, and the funny thing was I actually was going to start him even before he texted. And that just reaffirmed to me that he wanted to play on the big stage,” Tiu shared.
Throughout the game, the combo guard repaid his coach’s trust, scoring 15 points to help Benilde stay within striking distance of San Beda.
Heading into the final play of the game, with the game tied at 75-all and their season hanging by a thread, Benilde were able to come up with the ball via Allen Liwag gobbling the rebound off a Jomel Puno miss.
Liwag then gave the ball to Torres.
Remembering what Tiu said to him before the game, the guard went down to their side of the court and took the biggest shot of the match.
“Nasa isip ko rin 'yung sinabi sa akin ni Coach Charles na ako titira ng huli eh. Siguro natatandaan naman niya 'yun. Kaya kung sablay 'yun, siguro maalala 'yung sinabi niya,” Torres quipped.
“Pagka-drive ko, nakita ko rin si Allen nag rim-run siya. So kapag tinira ko, naisip ko, kaya niyang rebound yun. Pero, wala nang shot clock noon, so ayun, tinira ko lang talaga,” Torres also said.
From texting his mentor to hitting a game-winning basket, Torres said it was a mixture of faith and confidence that made him shoot his shot.
“Even before the last shot, I drew up a play for him na hindi napasa ni Ynot, but he came up to me habang nag-rreview sila and he said, ‘Coach, kapag nakuha ko 'yung bola, ako na bahala, hindi ko na papasa.’ Sabi ko, okay basta shoot mo, okay na 'yun,” Tiu confessed.
“Ang iniisip ko lang noon, kapag sumuko kami n'un, binigay na namin 'yung game sa kanila. So iniisip ko, bahala na, kahit pagalitan ako ni coach basta trabaho ako. Buti naman, thank you Lord kasi 'yung last shot ko hindi ko akalain papasok,” Torres said.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
