(Guilmer de la Torre reacts in the last six seconds after teammate Marlon Espiritu turns the ball over, allowing the LSGH a chance to go for a final offensive).
I had a great online chat with Guillmer de Torre.
This was a few hours after the Arellano University Braves pulled off a 75-74 triumph over the La Salle Greenhills Junior Blazers in the junior division semifinal playoffs.
(Guilmer smiles after the Arellano Braves escape with a 75-74 win over the LSGH Greenies).
It was one of the few closely fought encounters I longed to see in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament, and it took place last Friday, Oct. 16.
It, my chat with Guilmer, may be short.
(Agony of defeat: Luis Velasco (11) is speechless. Ricci Rivero (center) cries his heart out while an assistant coach of opposing team tries to console him over their loss. Miguel Lanot is shown at right).
But, after an encounter that I will never forget, I learned to appreciate the fighting spirit not just of the La Salle Greenhills Greenies, but of the Arellano University Braves as well.
If Ricci Rivero represents the fighting heart of the Greenies, then De la Torre can be considered as one of the leaders of this band of Braves cagers.
(scene of victory and defeat. (left) Braves Tylon Darjuan and coaching staff give LSGH coach John Flores a hug (in dark shirt). (center) Braves teammates try to give Guilmer de la Torre a victory ride. (right) LSGH big man Ian Herrera is letting it all sink in).
That’s with his big fighting heart as well.
That afternoon, Guilmer led with 20 points when action ended at the Mall of Asia Arena.
(Marlon Espiritu(13) gets hugs from teammates).
He put the Braves ahead with his two winning charities in the last 41.7 seconds.
“Ah, shempre positive lang po iniisip ko po yung kung ano ginagawa ko sa training yun din yung gagawin ko at focus lang sa game!,” said a confident de la Torre hours after the game has ended.
(Coach Tylon Darjuan (left) whoops it up upon realizing that the Braves have won).
The next plays were harrowing, gut-wrenching, suspenseful and nerve-wracking for the Braves and Guilmer.
After Ricci Rivero missed an attempt for the Junior Blazers, and the Braves had an opportunity to move away in the next instance.
(Carlo Abadez(8) gets harassed by LSGH cager Prince Ollano).
Braves cager Marlon Espiritu, who was hounded by Rivero, turned the ball over during an inbound play in the last 6.4 seconds.
Here, Guillmer and his teammates cringed at Espiritu’s miscue.
(Ian Herrera(5) screens Ira Bataller).
They could have scored.
And this sent members of the team, including Guilmer close to tears.
(Jayson Danas (center) losses the ball after getting blocked by LSGH player Renzo Pagulayan).
At this point, Rivero was showing the way with 31 points for the Junior Blazers.
He led the final offensive.
(Guilmer de la Torre sings the school anthem with another teammate).
He tried to go for a basket underneath.
But he couldn’t find an opening in the crowded shaded lane.
(Guilmer de la Torre).
Unable to find an open shot, he passed the ball to his right and into Luis Velasco’s waiting hands.
Luigi, son of College of St. Benilde Blazers coach Gabby Velasco, then went for a three-pointer.
(Guilmer de la Torre drives past (12) Alain Madrigal).
But big man Carlo Abadeza quickly saw what Luis was about to do and ran in Luis’ direction.
He then got in the way of an attempt from the perimeter by Luis Velasco, who was in the air when Abadeza appeared, leapt, and stretched out his hand right hand in front of Luis’ face in mid air.
(Lars Sunga is driving past Joshua Boo).
The basket, which could have been a three-pointer fell short of the rim as Abadeza succeeded in getting in the way.
“Hindi po kasi nasa isip ko na mananalo kami,” said Guilmer hours after Abadeza succeeded with his defensive move, the buzzer hadsounded, and the fans joined the team in an emotional and teary-eyed celebration.
(Marlon Espiritu).
- Play by play
In the first period, the Braves were barely scoring with Guilmer held to just three points.
They took a 10-9 lead.
(Guilmer de la Torre (left) and Ricci Rivero).
But the Greenies overtook them off Luis Velasco’s drive and Ricci’s two freebies, 14-9, with four minutes to go.
They then took a 20-12 edge behind Rivero’s drive and steal of Guilmer, and a jumper from Luis in the last 58 seconds of the initial 10 minutes of the game.
(Ricci Rivero shoots a three).
When the second canto came, Ricci pushed LSGH to a 41-33 spread with his two free throws in the last 1:24.
But, the Braves stayed within range, 40-43, at halftime off drives from Guilmer and Lars Sunga.
(LSGH coach John Flores).
In the third quarter, the Braves overtook LSGH, first behind a split charity from Carlo Abadeza, and then off Resty Fornis’ penetration, 55-54, with 2:54 remaining.
From there, LSGH regained the upperhand, 58-55, of Ricci and off Ian Herrera through their rebound plays with 2:01 left.
Then the match got tied up, first at 58-all, behind a split and putback from Sunga in the final 1:21.
(Fans hold up posters of Ricci Rivero and Alain Madrigal).
Then, the end of the third ended at 61-all, following a shootoff between Rivero and de la Torre.
First, Ricci knocked in three of four freebies, and Arellano’s Guilmer answered with another of his drives and layup, as the game evened at the end of the third.
The match got tied again, 67-all. It happened after de la Torre put Arellano up, 67-63, with a jumper.
(LSGH coach John Flores gives out instructions to the bench).
After that LSGH replied with a pair of free throws from Renzo Pagulayan and a drive from Rivero, in the last 7:11.
From there, it became a seesaw battle for the lead, and after Espiritu’s putback allowed Arellano to take the lead, 69-67, in the last six minutes.
(Paolo Rivero, father of Ricci, watches the game).
When it was all over, the Braves and their supporters erupted in celebration, knowing the battle has been won, and the road to the finals is not over yet.
“Wala lang. Puso lang. Ang tagal naming nag-prepare para dito. Talo kasi kami ng dalawang beses sa eliminations sa kanila,” said Braves coach Tylon Darjuan.
- The setback, to Ricci and the Greenies
To the Greenies, the season is over, and most of them will move to college next year.
Ricci, shocked by the setback and devastated by the setback as he sank under the LSGH goal, crying his heart out, will be best remembered for the big game he had in the final moments of his high school career.
He unloaded 31 points and nine rebounds.
And that’s above his average of 25.41 points, 8.76 rebounds, 2.76 assists, 2.41 steals and 1.88 blocks.
The last time around, he struck with season record of 40 points and 10 rebounds when the Greenies beat the Lyceum Junior Pirates, 88-71, in their playoff for fourth spot last Oct. 13.
- The Significance of the Win
In this game, I saw Guilmer playing one of his best again, with 20 points. This is above his norm of 19.17 points per game.
Because of their historic victory, the Braves advanced to the second stepladder semifinals.
And they will meet the second seeded Mapua Red Robins on Tuesday.
Coach Tylon said the players and the community just needs to have faith in the team.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, sa Final 4, sa semifinals, mag-iiba na ang lahat. Patibayan ng puso ito,” added coach Tylon.
So far, this is the Braves best performance after the placed seventh last season.
The scores:
Arellano 75- de la Torre 20, Sunga 14, Abadeza 12, Espiritu 7, Danas 7, Bataller 6, Fornis 4, Tamayo 3, Calapine 2.
LSGH 74- Rivero 31, Velasco 10, Pagulayan 9, Manuel 9, Madrigal 8, Herrera 5, Ollano 2, Pedrosa 0, Boo 0.
Quarterscores: 15-20, 40-43, 61-all, 75-74.
Pektus Corner 