Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Ateneo guard Matt Nieto took his spot just an inch behind the free throw line with the game clock stopped at 3.9 seconds and the scoreboards at 75-74 in favor of archrivals De La Salle.
The blue crowd collectively held its breath while the people in green tried every distraction allowed by Mall of Asia security.
Nieto looked at the rim, dribbled the ball twice, and shot his free throw. Swish. He repeated the same motion one more time and the scoreboards now read 76-75 in favor of the Blue Eagles.
“Actually, I was just relaxed, we’re always practicing our free throws each and every day,” said Nieto now in a more somber area inside the venue. “It’s always my routine, it’s the same routine, whether it’s the first free throw in the game or the last.”
“I just shot it like it’s my normal routine and luckily my practice paid off.”
The game, however, wasn’t finished yet as the 3.9 seconds that got stuck during Nieto’s free throws would now tick away.
And tick away it did as the Green Archers failed to shot a sensible attempt as a bright red light illuminated the clocks’ borders.
Ateneo emerged as the victors and capped off its 7-0 first round with a 76-75 win over the defending champions.
And as the tournament heads into its crucial stage, Nieto also looked forward and would treat his heroics as mere memory.
“I won’t let it go to my mind, I’m more focused on our next game,” said Nieto, who finished the game with 16 points. “When another opportunity like that comes my way, I will just follow coach Tab [Baldwin] because he knows best.”