Mapua’s JOSEPH ERIOBU. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Tears were shed when Mapua escaped with a 67-63 victory over Perpetual to end their eliminations schedule in the NCAA Season 92.
Joseph Eriobu wept his eyes in the end game, but that wasn’t because of the win.
Coach Atoy Co tore him apart when the 6-foot-3 forward failed to follow the bench’s instructions.
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“Yung last play, akala ko kasi wala nang oras kaya I hugged the ball,” he said after securing the rebound in the waning moments of the game. “Dapat pinasa ko raw kay CJ (Isit) kasi open siya. Akala ko talaga wala nang oras eh, so nasigawan ako.”
Co wanted his Cardinals to run the clock down to close the game out, but Eriobu hugged the ball, allowing Daryl Singontiko to foul him with 3.4 seconds on the clock.
Mapua Cardinals huddle up after the big win. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
“May point yung coaches ko. Good thing doon, nag-focus ako dun sa last two free throws,” he said.
Fortunately, Eriobu was able to atone for his miscue, draining the marginal freebies to seal the deal for Mapua.
He understands where Co is coming from, saying that those instances are in a way a glimpse of his paternal relationship with the PBA great.
“Yung relasyon namin, parang mag-ama talaga kami. Kumbaga, pag yung anak napagalitan, iiyak. Sa kanya, sabi nya prodigal son daw nya ako, pero sa storya na yun, yung prodigal son na yun, bumait, bumalik,” he said. “Sa akin, normal na yun.”
After sitting out last year’s campaign, Eriobu and Co were able to patch things up, paving the way to the former’s return to Mapua this year.
Though at times, Co and assistant coach Ed Cordero couldn’t help but blow their top off due to the way the players are performing in the floor, Eriobu sees it as the coaches’ way of showing their passion for the job in their desire to win.
Mapua head coach Atoy Co. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
“Sobrang nakaka-motivate sa akin kapag nagagalit sila ni coach Ed, pero naiintindihan ko naman yun kasi I understand na mahal nila yung ginagawa nila,” he said.
With Mapua sitting at the third in the Final 4, Eriobu hopes to repay his coaches’ trust as they try to make it all the way to the Finals.
“Sobrang saya kasi yung rookie pa lang kami ni Andoy (Estrella), lagi kaming nasa bottom,” he said. “Sobrang thankful kami kay God na nakaabot kami rito, pati sa mga coaches namin na nagtitiwala sa amin.”