Vhoris Marasigan remained confident after his potential title-winning shot just rimmed out, which sent the UAAP Season 88 Finals between La Salle and UP to a winner-take-all Game 3.
Vhoris Marasigan was inches away from delivering a championship for DLSU.
However, his potential title-winning triple agonizingly rattled out as the Green Archers fell to the UP Fighting Maroons, 63–66, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals on Sunday.
With La Salle down two in the closing seconds, Marasigan found himself taking La Salle's final shot after UP’s defense denied Jacob Cortez.
The look was there—but the result just wasn’t meant to be.
“Sapat naman ‘yung oras para mag-create sana nung last shot talaga,” Marasigan told reporters after the match.
“Sabi ko naman kay Jacob [Cortez] na nag-sorry din ako kasi dapat talaga sa kanya ‘yung last shot. Gusto niya rin sa kanya yung last shot niya. Eh wala eh, dine-deny siya ni Bayla kaya ako nalang tumira.”
Confidence is still there
The miss forced a winner-take-all Game 3, but Marasigan stressed that the moment did not shake the Green Archers’ belief in this title series.
“Sabi naman ng team namin na may Game 3 pa. Hindi pa naman tapos ‘yung laban kaya laban lang,” he said.
The DLSU Green Archers after their Game 2 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons. | Photo: UAAP
Asked if the miss affected his confidence, Marasigan was quick to shut that down.
“Hindi naman. ‘Di naman nakapekto kasi may Game 3 pa. May chance pa ako.”
Despite the heartbreak, La Salle now turns its focus to the decisive finale on Wednesday, December 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.