San Miguel’s AZ Reid. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With San Miguel Beer down by two, AZ Reid dismissed his coach’s instruction to call a timeout and missed a potential game-winning triple in the Beermen’s 105-103 loss to Mahindra on Wednesday.
Despite the outcome, Reid said he’d still refuse to call a timeout and go for the same shot if he finds himself in the same situation.
“I’ll take that shot ten out of ten times,” the two-time Best Import said. “I just missed it. It happens.”
San Miguel Beer got possession of the ball with about 15 seconds left after the Enforcer turned the ball over with an errant pass by LA Revilla and as Reid crossed the halfcourt line, Beermen head coach Leo Austria was telling him to sue for time to map out one last play.
Reid, however, had other plans in mind.
“What do we need a timeout for?” Reid said. “I’m just going to take the same shot. You go to a timeout and sit down and take a break and I’m going to come out and still shoot a three. I won’t need a timeout to let them come and set their defense.”
“If I make that shot, you don’t ask me that question, right? If I made that three, I’m the man. If I missed it, it’s the import’s fault.”
Austria had nothing against Reid’s decision, respecting his import’s call to play on with the game on the line.
“Everybody from the bench is signaling a timeout dahil yun ang pinagusapan namin,” Austria said on the crucial play.
“But you know I always give the players inside – because they’re the one playing – [the freedom] to decide. But it’s very obvious naman e. Ang mga players and coaches, ganyan. You can never know what will happen e. Maybe there’s an opportunity for him to make that shot but hindi nangyari. That’s a decision na we have to respect.”
Reid was adamant that he did the right thing while also owning up to the consequences.
“Come on, I’ve been here five years and I know how it goes. Blame me. I can take the pressure. I’m built for it. It’s alright.”