It’s been a long time coming, but Adamson Lady Falcons' Cheska Apag has atoned for some late-game miscues in their stepladder semis win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Redemption was months in the making for Adamson guard Cheska Apag as she dragged the Ateneo Blue Eagles into overtime with a clutch make in regulation that helped the Lady Falcons move on in the stepladder semifinals, 59-53, in UAAP Season 87 on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After previously missing clutch shots in their close first-round encounter against defending champions UST Growling Tigresses a couple of months ago, Adamson head coach Ryan Monteclaro continued to trust in his player.
Though Apag herself struggled to gain confidence, Monteclaro was adamant she could do it. And during the most crucial moment of the season for the Lady Falcons, where they faced a 49-47 deficit against presumptive MVP Kacey Dela Rosa and the Blue Eagles, Apag came through.
“I want to go back to our first round encounter with UST. When we played UST nung first round, wherein she (Apag) had a chance, I drew up a play, she had a chance and it was a wide open shot, namiss niya. And she was crying all over. No confidence, etc. Then there’s a timeout that happened, there’s another timeout that happened. Nung pag-time-out ko, another play drew up for her. And after that, nagkaroon ng deadball, another possession for us, another one for her. Kasi that’s how I give confidence to these players, I believe in each and every one of them,” Monteclaro said after the game.
“She was telling me ‘wag sakin’ or ‘bakit sakin? I keep on missing shots’. I was telling her, at the end of the day, you know, the confidence has to be there. Whatever happens, we live and die with that… After the shot, she made the overtime shot, she was running to me and telling me, 'coach thank you, thank you coach.' For me, it’s not about me eh. It’s about them. That’s the hard work. The work they put in, day in and day out.” he added.
Apag’s basket sent the game into an extra five minutes where the Lady Falcons were able to subdue Ateneo thanks to their defensive game plan.
Before the buzzer sounded, Apag was overcome with emotions as the Lady Falcons were able to reach the next step of the semifinals — ensuring themselves of a podium finish as the 3-seed. Against all odds, Apag and the San Marcelino cagers were able to overcome it.
“It’s all about the heart na talagang gusto manalo kahit na mahirap. Pero still, we know na we can do it. Kaya namin manalo despite na lamang sila sa amin. Sabi nga ni coach, tatlong mythical 5 sa team na 'yun sa amin walang superstars but still buo kami na gustong manalo,” said Apag.
Monteclaro further underscored that his team put in the effort despite going up against a team that had three players finishing in the Top 3 in statistical points — including back-to-back MVPs Dela Rosa.
Though without any players standing out individually, it was all about the team effort for Monteclaro and the Lady Falcons.
“Sabi ko before the game, God will always provide for those people who work for it. And you can tell naman, even if we’re the third in the seeding, with the three players there [in Ateneo] na Mythical Five candidate, I think these players deserve this win and they just proved that that shot was no luck. It was made in the Adamson court, every day, every morning,” said Monteclaro.
But the job is far from done for the San Marcelino squad with defending champions UST Growling Tigresses waiting for another knockout match for the right to face the NU Lady Bulldogs in the finals.
Adamson and the Growling Tigresses face off in a one-game knockout on Wednesday, December 4.