Gallego hopes to learn from late-game blunder in NU loss to UP

In a matter of just five seconds, JV Gallego got into a fateful fork that would either lead him to becoming a hero or a goat.

He became a goat.

In National University’s close 89-88 loss to University of the Philippines, Gallego had the chance to win the game but instead of going for a game-winning layup he chucked a pass to Dave Ildefonso out in the wing as the buzzer sounded.

Gallego knew he made the most crucial of mistakes that led to the Bulldogs’ fifth loss in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

But only in his second year, Gallego knows he can still make up for his mistake.

“I think I just have to be more aware of the clock next time, I have to be more mature for our next games, and be more composed,” said Gallego in Filipino Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

As Gallego laid down under the basket, with tears just waiting to roll down his eyes, teammate Issa Gaye and captain Dave Yu immediately picked him up and told him to keep his head high.

Head coach Jamike Jarin also told him that’s he’s not in trouble for the wrong that he did.

“I asked him why he’s putting his head down,” said Jarin. “I never get mad with those plays because it was a judgment call on his part and he saw that Dave was free and he had a chance to win it.”

“All of us makes mistakes, that’s part of growth of everybody, and that’s why I’m here to mentor these young men,” added Jarin, whose team fell to a 1-5 record and tied University of the East at the bottom of the ladder.