By: Bjorn Del Deade
Coming off an all-time classic victory on Tuesday evening, Charles Tiu – head coach of the College of Saint Benilde and lead assistant of Converge – couldn’t help but feel disappointed the following day.
Tiu had just witnessed an incredible come-from-behind win by the FiberXers over the San Miguel Beermen, capped by an Alec Stockton buzzer-beater, which gave Converge a new lease on life with a 114-112 decision.
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However, on Tuesday, his Blazers nearly faced the same fate against the upset-hungry San Sebastian Golden Stags.
“The highs and lows of basketball. From an epic win to a near-epic collapse in a span of 15 hours. Disappointing win for us at Benilde today. Almost embarrassing. In a really foul mood right now,” Tiu expressed in a tweet.
The Blazers managed to edge out the Golden Stags in a thrilling 96-94 overtime victory, allowing them to maintain their position at the top of the NCAA Season 100 Senior Basketball Tournament.
However, Tiu was furious with how his team squandered the 21-point advantage they had built by halftime.
“Maybe the worst win of my life. I don’t want to say anything because I’m mad. I’m really, really mad. That’s an embarrassment. We’re a joke right now,” he stated.
“Parang binibigay namin sa kanila yung bola eh.”
Benilde committed 31 turnovers, with 13 occurring in the fourth quarter alone. The Golden Stags capitalized on these miscues, scoring 33 points off them.
“I give credit to Baste, especially their guards. They showed an immense amount of heart. They didn’t quit and played really hard throughout the game,” Tiu remarked.
Additionally, the Blazers struggled at the free-throw line, converting only 15 of their 30 attempts.
“Medyo nakakahiya talaga. Can’t make free throws. I don’t know. It’s a shit game for us. We’re lucky we got away with the win, but whatever,” Tiu remarked.
Looking ahead, Tiu emphasized the need for the Blazers to quickly address their mistakes as they prepare for their matchup against the Arellano University Chiefs.
“We work on that. It doesn’t happen in other games, but today, for some reason, it happened. I don’t even think they’re the best defensive team compared to what they play. So it’s just on us that we slack off. We really have to shape up,” he said.
“These are learning experiences for us. We’re not that good. I told them before the game that the NCAA is very hard to win. Any given day, anything can beat you.”
