In the second round of the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Friday, Jearolan Omandac was far from having his best game in the first three quarters of Lyceum of the Philippines University’s match against College of Saint Benilde.
Omandac was 0-of-4 from beyond the three-point line and finished with zeroes in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in seven minutes of play for the first three quarters.
Statistically speaking, Omandac was not necessarily a go-to option for the Pirates even before this game. The backup big man was only averaging 5.54 points and 2.00 rebounds a game in 11:04 minutes of play.
Despite it all, none of the numbers stopped head coach Gilbert Malabanan from drawing up the plays for the 6-foot-3 big man with the game on the line.
“Actually, iba kasi yung nararamdaman ko pag may ginagamit ako na players eh. Pag nagsisimula kami ng first five namin, iba kasi yung mga feeling na mararamdaman mo, ang gaan ng loob mo dito, may instinct. Good thing nga yung instinct ko kay Omandac, sabi ko hindi naman nashoshoot mga tira nito sa labas, pero pagdating ng fourth quarter, ready naman siya lagi,” shared Malabanan.
With the Pirates barely in control of a minuscule one-point lead, Malabanan put the ball in the hands of Omandac for back-to-back possessions, who promptly sank two dagger triples to help seal the win for the Pirates.
“Bale nagtiwala din ako sa sarili ko. Kahit ilang mintis na yung sa first half, sabi ko sa sarili ko papasok din ito,” explained Omandac, who hails from Tagum, Davao del Norte.
Omandac’s heroics had massive implications on the overall landscape of the NCAA’s Final Four race as the Pirates’ victory kept Benilde from sneaking itself into the top-two spots in the standings and sent them back into the race for the three and four spots with the likes of San Beda University, Jose Rizal University, and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
For Malabanan, though, he is most grateful to his players for finally making the right reads on the offensive end, executing well, and finding Omandac to secure the victory.
“Throughout the end of it, at least nakita nila kung saan kami papunta, kung ano yung na-visualize namin para sa team,” he said.
“Yun naman yung gusto ko, sharing the ball and looking for the open man. Lalong-lalo na, I give credit to my point guard, kasi siya [si Omandac] yung nalilibre eh.”
The Final Four race is far from closed for the Pirates as they still have the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, who is also looking to get into the playoff picture, waiting for them on Sunday at noon.
