Free throws, learning a lesson

By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.

THE Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes I guess learned a big lesson when they almost fumbled in their initial victory against the Urdaneta City based International College of Excellence (ICE) Maharlika during the opening of this year’s UCAAP Jimmy Fernandez Basketball Challenge held last September 18 at Dr. Salvador T. Duque Fieldhouse (formerly called LNU gym) in Tapuac, Dagupan City.

The defending titlists Dukes who seized the lead at the halfway of the opening juncture, 12-10, and led by four points, 23-19, at the end of the first period, 48-34 at second, and led by as much by 17 points, 59-42, middle of third, suddenly found themselves in jam in the fourth when ICE slowly and surely did a catch-up, paced by their center the muscular Segundo Elegores, Jr. and wily point-guard John Michael Valdez combining 18 points, while most of Dukes’ key players blundered in their important charity shots, 9-out-of 19.

That annoyed LNU prexy Atty. Gonzalo Duque who said that were it not for those missed free throws, the game should have ended handily in their favor. I believe him. That’s also my observation. That also got head coach Angel Gumarang fuming and urged his boys to practice their free throws during their intensive training period especially when they’re tired. “Iba na kasi ang pulso kapag pagod na ang isang tao,” said basketball fanatic Jojo Lagera of Mangaldan.

And that paid off in their next game against PhilCST last September 24 held at Macario Ydia Development Center in my town Mangaldan, converting 17 of 25 free throws that contributed to the pummeling of their opponents. Naging ala professional sila nuong napagalitan. The UPang-PHINMA Flames also relentlessly and patiently trimmed the ICE quintet converting 14 out of 30 free throws (below 50 percent output) while ICE with 24 attempts at free throws, only 12 of successfully drained, or exactly 50 percent. Like the Dukes, I believe this was one of the reasons why Flames also almost lost the game winning only by three points, 87-84.
We have seen many games when teams lose their matches because of failed free throws. The memorable one was in 2002 Busan Games during our semifinal tiff against South Korea. Our Nationals leading by two points in the dying seconds when Olsen Racela missed the two very significant free throws that could have sealed the match if converted for the chance to face China in the gold medal tiff. That broke our hearts. Korea made the three-point shot in the ensuing seconds at the right side of the wing to seal the win. That stunned all Filipino basketball buffs. In the end, Korea fought China in the gold medal tilt and won. Yes, “it’s not over until it’s over,” as the saying goes.

If the referees of Jun Amado of BARECOM and Danny Villanueva of Mangaldan Referees Association are doing good in officiating (so far) during the UCAAP skirmishes, I also admire the patience of Ms. Lia Sanarez of UPang-PHINMA for attending all the games of the league, particularly, the Flames’ encounter with different teams. It’s early to say but I have a big feeling that the beautiful lass might be the lucky charm of the Flames. See you again at the LNU gym.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus said “For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” MATTHEW 19: 12

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