there are already a lot of predictions on who will win the 1st round and Air21 is none of those predictions.
I too did not expect that Air 21 would have a chance to beat San Miguel Beermen in the playoffs. I will tell you why:
First San miguel beermen has a loaded lineup composed of Sol Mercado (PG) Chris Ross (PG) Marcio Lassiter (SG) Chris lutz (SG) Arwind Santos (PF/SF) JuneMar Fajardo (C) Doug Kramer (PF/C) Ronald Tubid (SG) and Rico Maierhofer (PF/C)
Not to forget their notable bench players like Chico Lanete and Paulo Hubalde
Now tell me How will you beat a team with that kind of Lineup?
Second: They have the twice-to-beat advantage
Now for some teams this is a intimidating factor because once you lose one you'll be eliminated
Now we all have the reason to bet on SMB that they will really win against Air21 easily
But that didn't happen
Air21 won the 1st game with the help of the Reluctant effort of Sean Anthony
Many were shocked when they found out that the Beermen lost against the Express
I too was shocked, I mean with that caliber? how would someone beat a team like SMB?
but then it hit me, I totally Forgot the word "Heart".
Air21 used Heart and Determination to win that 1st game and by that time I am now questioning the caliber of this SMB team. (But to be honest I love underdogs)
Now with that thought set. I assumed that SMB will be more hungrier and focused on their next game for it would be a huge shame if they're just going to let them be beaten by team like Air21
With the 2nd game on I see a JuneMar Fajardo more focused than the 1st game and I just got a hunch that the Kraken will be released in that night.
So at the 1st and 2nd quarter the game was tight. There was even an altercation in the mid 2nd quarter because Yeo Hit Chris Ross below the belt which caused his ejection and it ignite the run of SMB. After the 1st half SMB were leading and they said they will use that 'altercation' as their spark for the whole game.
Yes I guess it was a spark for them because SMB fought harder in the 3rd and 4th quarter, man their lead even became a double-digit lead. But in the late 4th quarter the Air21 used their Hunger, Hunger for the win, Hunger for respect, and especially Hunger for that Chip'. they rallied back and erased the double digit lead and made it a close game.
Sadly 3 star players from SMB were already fouled out (Fajardo, Lassiter and Mercado) but they were still confident that they are going to get the win because in the last sequence of the 4th quarter, SMB were up by two and there is only 18 second left in the time but the problem is it is still Air21's ball.
Now the inbound was coming and the Air21 passed it on their import which took the trey and missed, With that trey missed by Air21's import SMB fans and the players saw a glimer of light that they will win the game.
But there is Asi Taulava.
He Grabbed that rebound with 1.8 second left in the shotclock and made the shot in the nick of time. OT!
All people were amazed and shocked on the sequence. Everyone thought that SMB already won the game because of that missed trey by Witherspoon. but Asi Taulava came like a dark cloud who shuts that glimer of light for SMB and sends the game into overtime.
With the OT coming I can see it's finally becoming in the favor of Air21 for they still have complete lineup (well except for Yeo who was ejected earlier) while SMB will have a big problem because their main gunners are on the bench and can't be deployed already.
the 1st OT SMB was still fighting hard, both teams showed their "Puso" and Determination. No player ever showed signs of fatigue, they still keep running and shooting.
And I guess the basketball gods doesn't want to finish this epic game so they send it again to another Overtime.
But in this 2nd overtime SMB is now showing fatigue and the effect of the fouling out of their 3 main gunners were already exposing: Asi Taulava eating his defender alive, Mac Mac Cardona penetrating and scoring for Air21 and Sean Anthony... well let's just say he pulled another Sean Anthony.
And at last! the game ended and everyone was left with shock and awe, Your Air21 express defeated the Mighty San Miguel Beermen! the Impossible became possible for Air21 while the side of the Beermen, Faces of frustration and sadness were in each of the players faces. They might be thinking on why are they beaten by Air21 which is not on their level.
Fans say it's all "Luto" and stuff but I say it's all because of "heart and determination" Players of SMB showed determination but Air21 showed more. SMB battled but Air21 gave it all. maybe if Asi wasn't able to make that shot for the Overtime I guess the speculations would be different. But just as I say, Asi was able to grab that rebound and make the shot because he got heart.
Heart..
It really changes the game of basketball. If you have heart in every game, you can defy the odds and be like David and defeat a Goliath
"Stay Humbry" - Sol mercado
Humbry = Hungry and Humble
No comments:
Post a Comment