Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
There’s an old basketball adage that says, “shooters keep shooting.”
Anthony Semerad did just that on Tuesday night, giving TNT a huge lift in a 107-103 win over top seed Barangay Ginebra and a 2-0 semifinals lead.
“I just wanted to stay focused. I took a couple of shots in the first quarter and I missed those,” Semerad said.
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The Fil-Australian forward was never discouraged despite missing his first three shots from the 3-point area.
Semerad stayed confident and he was rewarded late, burying four triples in the final five minutes and 18 seconds.
His final 3-pointer proved to be the game-winning basket, 105-103, with 52.7 seconds remaining.
“The ball came to me and I just hit those shots,” he recalled. “I mean for all of us, if we have an open shot and it’s a good shot, within the system, [we] take it.”
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“Tony spends so much time shooting even after practice, working with the guys. That’s why he was able to hit those,” said TNT head coach Nash Racela, who believes Semerad’s fourth-quarter explosion was a testament to his hard work.
At one stretch, he hit three straight to counter the Gin Kings’ punches.
“That’s why we got him. Number one, it’s because of his defense, he’s physical and at the same time, he’s also a floor spacer,” Racela said.
“I just want to give it all my best, give every shot that I can take and hopefully we can get there this time [championship], for me it’s my first time [in the PBA],” Semerad, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the payoff period, said. “If I can do it again, why not. I’ll come back in confident and if it’s open, take it.”