NCAA: Mark Omega shocked he hit game-winner to push Perpetual past Lyceum

Perpetual Help’s Mark Omega.–NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Call it a lucky shot or a shot from the heavens but Mark Omega’s 3-pointer lifted Perpetual Help over Lyceum, 81-80, in the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday.

Omega banked in a contested triple with 2.4 ticks to go–a shot that even he couldn’t believe went in.

“I really thought it wasn’t going to go in because I shot it strong but it’s God’s will. It was even a bank shot and I couldn’t believe that I did that,” said Omega in Filipino.

“I also challenge myself because in the previous games, I was struggling shooting the ball so with that shot, I was given the trust so the confidence to shoot was there for me.”

Omega’s game-winner was also his lone attempt from downtown and capped his double-double performance of 10 points and 12 rebounds as the Altas strengthened their Final Four bid with an 8-7 record.

But while Omega was surprised, his coach Myk Saguiguit was never in doubt.

“It was a broken play. It was supposed to be for Jielo (Razon) but he (Omega) popped well. He deserves that shot because in practice, he really works for it,” said Saguiguit.

“It was a bank shot too, he can hit 20 of those in practice so that wasn’t luck. It’s real. He really does that,” he added.