Last Friday, Alvin Pasaol was the goat for the Bataan Risers when they faced the Makati Super Crunch at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Pasaol, a known shooter, had an off game for the Risers, even air-balling two free throws.
“Yung shooting mo kasi sa Bataan kagabi sablay, dalawang free throw mo air ball!” quipped Pasaol’s good friend David Carlos, who also plays for Makati, as the Super Crunch won, 76-69.
With the memory still fresh in his head the next day, the 24-year-old gunner made sure to make it up when he represented Balanga in the fourth leg of the 2019 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Patriot’s Cup presented by Coca-Cola.
During Wilkins-Balanga’s semifinals game against the highly-touted VetHealth-Delhi 3BL, the two squads were neck-and-neck up until the final moment.
The game was knotted at 20-all when Pasaol was fouled by Inderbir Singh with 1:04 left.
Pasaol missed the first free throw.
“Hindi naman ako na-rattle,” recalled Pasaol.
Collecting himself, he sank the second free throw to lead Balanga to the Finals. The Pure eventually took down Gold’s Gym-Pasig in the finale to win the leg and a cool PHP 100,000.
And for Pasaol, it was his way of making it up to Bataan.
“Medyo off ako kagabi. Pero babawi kami. Well, nakabawi naman kasi dala pa rin namin yung Balanga ngayon.”
It was an all-important victory for Balanga as they will enter the Grand Finals as the top seed.
