When San Beda University was searching for an answer during Lyceum of the Philippines University's third quarter rampage, head coach Yuri Escueta turned to rookie Nygel Gonzales.
The Pirates, who were trailing all game long, suddenly took their only second lead of the game when JM Bravo split his charities to give Lyceum a 46-45 cushion early in the penultimate period.
Rising to the occasion, Gonzales eventually showed up.
The former Mapua high school standout fired back-to-back triples to retake the lead, 51-48, before rubbing off his luck from downtown on teammates Damie Cuntapay, Jacob Cortez, and Yukien Andrada as they fueled a 12-0 run that saw them up by 12, 63-51.
Gonzales capped off the third quarter with another booming triple to make it a 66-56 upper hand en route to an 82-72 victory that sent the Red Lions back to the finals round after four years.
Escueta admitted that Gonzales was the difference maker in the do-or-die match as the first year cager balled out in probably one of the biggest games of his career so far.
"Pinasok ko si Nygel Gonzales, so si Nygel may big game nung dumidikit sila," said Escueta when asked what the turning point was during the Lyceum comeback attempt.
(I played Nygel Gonzales so he had a big game when they were inching closer.)
"They were zoning and they were staying on kay Jacob but luckily, they left some guys open and those guys were open to take those shots."
Gonzales also stepped up big time for main guard Cortez, who had been the primary target of the Lyceum defense as the third year star was limited to just seven points on 2-of-8 from the field. He finished with 11 points, five assists, and two rebounds to help carry the fight.
"I have to give it to the confidence nung batang ‘yun, ibang klase talaga. But not just him, kahit nung pinasok ko sila Damie, ready sila tumira. We made their shots and we played defense," Escueta added.
(I have to give it to his confidence, he's one of a kind. Not just him, even when Damie entered the game, they're ready to shoot. We made their shots and we played defense.)
But for Escueta, everything stemmed from the fact that they instilled it into their system that every game is a do-or-die one for them, or at least ever since they lost to top seed Mapua University in their second round meeting behind a game-winner by Paolo Hernandez.
They have won every game since that 71-69 defeat and incidentally, it will also be the Cardinals they will be facing in the championship round.
"Tingin ko nakatulong sa amin ‘yung defeats namin early in the second round. Ilang beses ko na sinabi sa inyo ‘to, the team could have easily folded," shared Escueta.
"Tingin ko kasi na pang-sixth na do-or-die na namin ‘to eh simula nung natalo kami sa Mapua. So sinabi ko sa kanila na wala namang bago sa playoffs eh."
(I think our defeats early in the second round helped us. I told you several times, the team could have easily folded. I think this is our sixth do-or-die since we lost to Mapua so I told them there is nothing new here in this playoff.)
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
