Pingoy hopes that second time, now with
Adamson, is the charm
by rick olivares
Jerie Pingoy prayed in front of
the Cross. He spent a good two minutes before he made the sign of the cross to
signify the end of his prayer and entered the Adamson dugout… to applause.
It was the first time in what…
years? It seems like an eternity since he was lauded for his efforts on the
basketball court that led to a 61-58 overtime win over the Arellano University
Chiefs on opening day of the 11th FilOil Flying V Premier Cup last Labor
Day, May 1.
In truth, Adamson, harried by the
terrific and physical defense of the Chiefs, labored for every point. Gunner
Jerrick Ahanmisi only found an ounce of daylight twice. Every other time, he
had a hand or two in his face. Even Pingoy, once spry and quick of feet seemed
to be playing in slow motion. But he drove hard and adjusted on the fly.
His stat line seems a little
pedestrian for someone of his talents – 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2
steals. However, that’s what Pingoy tabulated in 17 minutes. Unrecorded were
the two huge stops late in the game on Arellano University’s Kent Michael
Salado and Lervin Flores. The former was forced into a missed shot - a pull up
jumper from the 15-foot line that barely grazed the rim while the latter was a
forced jumpball that would have prevented a Chiefs inside basket. Pingoy would
have a couple of more assist, but his teammates missed some open shots.
After Salado scored on an incredible
drive against three defenders inside the lane to give Arellano a 48-45 lead
with a minute and change left in the match, Pingoy rifled in a three, only the
team’s third in 15 attempts all match long, with the long ball an integral part
of their offensive scheme. Salado missed a long three at the buzzer and now
Adamson had a chance to steal the game in overtime.
And that’s where Pingoy worked
his magic.
After Pingoy buried a mid-range
jumper to give Adamson the lead for good, 58-56, Arellano called for time. The “veteran”
point guard hung his shoulders, looking tired as he is a bit out of shape and
trudged to the bench. His teammates, even those sniping behind his back,
high-fived him and patted him on the head.
Earlier in the match, after he a three-point
attempt, Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren and assistant Jack Santiago didn’t
get mad. They merely waved the team to get back on defense.
On a night when the Soaring
Falcons offense sputtered, it was their defense and offensive rebounding that
got them back into the game. They collectively hauled down 21 offensive boards
to Arellano’s 14. And they translated that into 17 points; 10 more than the
Chiefs.
After the match, Pingoy seemed to
be lost for words. Which is surprising for someone always willing to talk,
trade verbal jabs with opponents, and is so loquacious on social media. After
Salado engaged him in a verbal joust late in the game. The only thing he said
was, “Tara na! Bring it.”
And post-match, “It. Just. Feels.
So. Good,” was all Pingoy could say in short fragmented sentences. And maybe
its apt since his career has been so fragmented since leaving FEU for Ateneo
after high school. Now with Adamson, hope, as the saying goes, springs eternal.
“Hopefully, tuloy tuloy na.”
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