By Ivan Saldajeno
MAKATI—Fatima
was just a Joseph Marquez trey away from taking the NAASCU crown from St. Clare
on Friday.
But for Coach
Ralph Rivera, he is still happy on how far the Phoenix went in their comeback
season after taking the previous year off.
“[It was] very
disappointing, pero [we have] nothing to be ashamed of. I’m still proud of the
boys. Actually, we’re not thinking of the finals during the start of the
season. Masaya kami na umabot kami ng finals,” Rivera told Dugout Philippines.
Regarding the
said final play, the former MBA star insisted, “That’s for Marquez. It’s
his shot, but it didn’t go in.”
Playing in what
would be his farewell game in NAASCU, Marquez, known as “Balong” to his friends,
launched a wide-open triple from the left wing at the final buzzer, but he
overshot it, letting St. Clare escape with a hard-fought 64-62 Game 3 win to
clinch the NAASCU title at the Makati Coliseum.
[Related Story: St. Clare bags NAASCU title with Game 3 squeaker win against Fatima]
“Last year niya.
Para sa kanya yung taon na ito, so kailangan kunin niya talaga yun,” Rivera
further explained his decision to let Marquez decide the outcome of the game.
Marquez would
still impress in his swan song, tallying 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists,
and two assists. He would also make the Mythical Five, the only player from the
Valenzuela-based school that made the selection.
[Related Story: Dionisio takes NAASCU MVP plum, leads Mythical 5]
[Related Story: Dionisio takes NAASCU MVP plum, leads Mythical 5]
However, Rivera
rued another key reason behind Fatima’s Cinderella story that fell short of a
happy ending.
“Actually di pinaglaro si Emil Japzon.
Malaking factor sa amin yung di niya paglaro,” Rivera said about the key
absence.
But with only
Marquez leaving for next year and Japzon returning, the Phoenix are expected to
be among those who will deprive the Saints of back-to-back titles.
Rivera said,
“Intact pa rin kami. Si Balong lang ang mawawala. Malaki pa rin ang chance
namin next year. Meron din kaming mga recruits na papasok. Hopefully next year,
babalik kami na stronger, wiser, and more prepared.”
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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