By: Ohmer Bautista
For Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights super senior Bong Quinto, his finest performance in the NCAA Season 94 Seniors Basketball tournament – so far – had an underlying motivation served as his extra motor.
Despite playing in front of their home crowd at the Blessed Antonio Verona Gymnasium, Quinto and the Knights found themselves gasping for air in the early-goings of the match.
“‘Yung first half namin, masyado kaming (excited) kasi andito kami sa home court namin. Kasi siyempre, minsan lang makalaro sa harap ng crowd namin,” the former Squire bared. “‘Yun nga, sabi nga ni coach Jeff (Napa) nung halftime, na-realize namin na kung ‘di kami maglaro as a team, walang mangyayari samin.”
Down 25-31 at halftime, the burly 6-foot swingman rallied his teammates together in the second half to make it a close-quarter battle, willing a 60-all deadlock in the payoff frame. With less than two minutes left in regulation, Quinto knocked down a fadeaway stab over the outstretched arms of Justin Gutang — a dagger that changed the complexion of the game and sealed the outcome for Letran.
Finishing with 17 points on 57 percent shooting, on top of six rebounds and an assist, Quinto admitted that this game held much more meaning than the usual since it’s a present not just for his school, but also for his beloved dad.
“Lalo na for me, talagang special ‘tong araw na ‘to kasi, bukod sa birthday ng tatay ko kahapon, sixty na siya. De-dedicate ko talaga sa kanya ngayon,” the 21-year-old gushed.
“(Tapos) yun nga, home court namin, last game ko ng maglalaro sa harap nila (Letranites) kasi last year ko na ngayon.”
Moreover, another factor that added fuel to his fire was the attendance of his former teammates from the core that had brought the championship back inside the walls of Intramuros in 2015.
“Home court namin, nandyan pa ‘yung teammates namin nung nag-champion kami nung 2015. Sila Racs (Kevin Racal), sila [Chris] Dela Peña, Jom Sollano, Rey Nambatac. Actually, madami sila diyan, di ko lang nakita ‘yung iba. Tapos ganun din ‘yung mga alumni, sobrang thankful ako na nandito sila.”
“So, ‘yun, ayaw ko talagang mapahiya kami na papasok kami sa school na talo kami. Number one talaga is ide-defend namin ‘yung home court namin kasi amin to eh,” he pointed out.
“Para sa mga Letranites talaga,”
