Emotional Mark Nonoy after UST’s Game 1 loss in the UAAP Finals. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Phiippines—Mark Nonoy picked the best time to unleash the biggest game of his rookie year, but University of Santo Tomas’ 91-77 blowout loss to Ateneo in the Game 1 of the Finals wasn’t how he wanted to end the night.
Nonoy’s career-best effort of 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field, 7-of-14 from deep, and five rebounds went for naught as the Growling Tigers failed anew to dent the Blue Eagles’ seemingly impenetrable armor.
Overcome with emotions, the would-be Rookie of the Year couldn’t help but tear up and go to assistant McJour Luib to find some support after the final buzzer sounded.
“Of course it was painful because this was our goal but we came up short,” said Nonoy in Filipino Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “We’ll just take back the series in Game 2,”
Of those players from UST who took at least five shots, it was only Nonoy who converted on a 50 percent rate and at times looked to be carrying the Growling Tigers on his shoulders.
Nonoy drove to the basket every chance he got or pulled up from deep if he saw the defense sag off.
“I did everything I can because our first group was having problems in the game,” said Nonoy who played nearly 28 minutes off the bench.
“We have to step up. It’s now up to coach Aldin [Ayo] to make the adjustments for the betterment of our team come Game 2.”