[tinalo pati mga astig na NBA and PBA classics]
UAAP 2002 season. Final four game 2 between ATENEO and UE.
[Backgrounder for the memory-disadvantaged... Ateneo was the number 3 seed and won game 1 vs the no.2 Red Warriors of Paul Artadi, James Yap, and Ronald Tubid. If the Blue Eagles win this game, they would face defending champs DLSU in the best of 3 finals. If not, well we fans are used to seasons of frustration so what else is new, right?]
I don't remember exact details but the memories have stuck...
Minutes/seconds before endgame: Ateneo down by 2. After making an error in a previous play, Coach Banal sticks with Gec Chia.
Soon enough, we know why he never left the court. Chia makes a jumpshot to tie the game. 70 all.
Failed UE offensive. Ball goes back to Ateneo.
Last play with less than 5 seconds to go in the game: Enrico Villanueva makes a kalabaw drive to the hoop, realizes he ain't going nowhere, can't be the days hero, does the smart thing... passes back to... you guessed it... Gec Chia.
Chia da man gets da rock [it's what they call a basketball nowadays] past the three point line, dribbles to his right a bit, releases a jumpshot... and then...
NO EXAGG. PARANG SINE. PARANG NAG SLO-MO SA LOOB NG ARANETA COLISEUM.
For a split-second, tahimik... tapos isa pang split-second... SUPERMEGAULTRA-PANDEMONIUM.
Ateneo 72. UE 70. Nag-wild sa court ang mga players/kids. Nag wild din sa stands ang fans. Talon ako ng talon kasama ng pinsan at barkada. Parang kids.
Dramatic diba?! Parang dun palang, alam mo na kung sino ang destined mag-champ. Ibang klase yung feeling nung na shoot niya. At mas wild talaga kung live ka nanonood. Ako, natural high/adrenalin rush. Pero yung kaibigan kong nanood kasama ko... sabi nya nag kick-in ulit yung tinira niyang "stuff" from the night before.
So ayun. Days/a week later, may bagong champion na ang UAAP. Masaya din naman yung 3 games of the finals against DLSU. Pero ito pa rin favorite game of that season... and of all time.
Found a video uploaded by someone else on youtube. If you want to see that shot as well as other bleagle buzzer beaters, check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WmtvJ-CiU&feature=related
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