Faced with challenges from both sides of the floor, Allan Mangahas had only one option.
Step up or bust.
Mangahas chose the former.
Cebuana Lhuiller Gems were down a game against Hapee Fresh Fighters in their semifinals series in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup and a loss would knock them out of contention.
As Gems coaches egged their players to step up, Mangahas was the one who heeded the call and he delivered big.
Mangahas scored 40 points, including a couple of clutch ones down the stretch, and grabbed eight boards to lead the Gems to a 76-73 victory and extend the semifinals series to a rubber match.
“The coaches challenged them, ‘who among you will step up?'” Gems head coach Boycie Zamar said. “He [Mangahas] filled those shoes.”
“He’s been to the PBA, he’s a champion in the D-League, and he’s the veteran.”
Down 73-72 with 1:25 remaining in the fourth, Mangahas got trapped near the half-court line, drove to the left elbow, and pulled up for a teardrop that conveniently rested at the bottom of the net to give the Gems a 74-73 lead with 1:04 remaining in the game.
“I just went up for shots and thank God it went in,” Mangahas said after he tied the D-League record of 40 points that Jeramy King set.
“When the coaches challenged me and they said I was the veteran, I was actually flattered,” the former Meralco Bolts guard said.
“I wish I can return to the PBA.”