Gilas Cadets in a huddle during their tune up against Ateneo on Tuesday. Photo by Mark Giongco
Gilas cadets were looking for a good challenge from Ateneo and they had quite a scare instead.
The Cadets got more than they bargained for as they needed end-game heroics from Baser Amer to escape Ateneo, 86-79, in a tuneup Tuesday at Moro Lorenzo Sports Complex.
Amer flourished in the pressure-packed situations, accounting for Gilas’ last eight points in the final two minutes and 12 seconds, to rescue his team from what could’ve been a humiliating loss.
“The Gilas boys showed us some things about experience. Baser is maturing very quickly, he made big plays down the stretch and that’s what they brought him in to do,” Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin told reporters.
With the cadets protecting an 82-79 edge, Amer took matters into his own hands and buried a floater to stretch the lead to five with 29.1 seconds left before getting a steal and assist to Kiefer Ravena six seconds later to seal the game.
“We just practiced yesterday. We were surprised because we’re still feeling each other’s games and our opponents were quick so coach just told us to focus,” said Amer in Filipino.
“We just needed to assert ourselves more because they may end up playing in the SEA Games instead of us if they beat us.”
Unfazed, Ateneo even took a 53-48 lead early in the third quarter before the cadets imposed their might to regain control and take a 78-68 advantage with 5:29 remaining.
The Blue Eagles, however, just won’t go away. Isaac Go cut Gilas’ lead down to three, 82-79, with 1:06 left.
But the back-and-forth duel only served as the curtain raiser for the main event starring Amer.
“It’s great to play with a guy like Baser Amer. You just dial his number when you need him,” Ravena said.