FILE – Arvin Tolentino. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Arvin Tolentino had the chance to etch his name as one of the many basketball heroes of Far Eastern University.
That, however, didn’t turn into reality as Tolentino became the goat when he botched a potential game-winner against Ateneo in the Tamaraws’ Final Four do-or-die.
With the score tied at 75 and with just 8.5 seconds left in regulation, Tolentino matched up against Isaac Go but the Tamaraws forward lost the ball that pushed the game to overtime, where the Blue Eagles took an 88-84 victory.
READ: Ateneo escapes FEU in OT, faces DLSU in UAAP Finals rematch
Tolentino, who realized what could’ve happened if he executed his shot properly, was certain that FEU was poised for a victory that could’ve set up a Finals date against defending champion De La Salle.
“I was super confident that we will win especially on that last 8.5 seconds when coach (Olsen Racela) entrusted me with the ball, unfortunately it was a turnover,” said Tolentino in Filipino Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“I thought we would win when I felt that I could’ve gotten my shot up, but the factor was the split second that I looked up in the clock and that made me lose the ball.”
Tolentino did look up at the backboard to see how much time was left, and it was around a second, and this allowed Go to give a little tap forcing the former Blue Eagle to lose the ball.
“What I was planning to do was go to my right and take a step-back jumper because I was expecting Ateneo would isolate me in the right lane,” said Tolentino.
“I don’t regret that moment [when I lost the ball] but that’s part of the game, what I do regret is the time when I looked up at the clock.”