Rookie Jom Sollano shines for the Knights down the stretch. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With San Beda leading 82-81 in the final minute of the overtime period, Mark Cruz made his way to the basket and met Ola Adeogun in the air.
But contrary to what the Nigerian was thinking, the eventual Finals MVP dished the ball to an open Jomari Sollano who easily drained the go-ahead jumper from the left baseline to put Letran up, 83-81, with 32.6 ticks left to play.
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That basket capped the sensational of the rookie in the series clincher where he finished 19 points, seven rebounds, and a block,
For Sollano, it’s just a matter of him sticking to his role.
“Ginawa ko lang yung role ko sa game namin at sumunod na lang lahat,” he said.
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Fortunately for him, that was the winning recipe for the Knights who ended San Beda’s dynasty and bagged their first NCAA title in 10 years.
“Nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay God at sa mga teammate ko na buo yung tiwala nila sa akin. Malaki yung hinihingi nila sa amin, lalo na sa depensa kay Ola, kaya andyan sila lagi para suportahan nila ako,” he said.
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It was probably the biggest confidence booster a newcomer could have as he shone on the biggest stage of the tournament.
Sollano was happy to have repaid Aldin Ayo’s trust in those crucial times.
“Sabi rin sa akin ni coach, kailangan mas magtiwala ako sa sarili ko at sa mga teammates ko para makuha namin yung mga play na dapat namin gawin sa loob ng court,” he said.