Emilio Aguinaldo College team captain Francis Munsayac has always been the rock for the Generals. Despite losing by a league-high 14.6 points last season, Munsayac was the one who continuously pushed his teammates.
“Sumusuko na ba kayo? Kaya pa natin ‘to!”
Thursday afternoon, Munsayac was inconsolable after a heartbreaking loss against the league-leading Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals.
The upstart Generals were down by just a solitary point, 68-67, with eight seconds remaining in the game.
“Ang sakin kasi nun as captain ball hahawakan ko na lang yung bola, and I will look for [Jorem] Morada kasi talagang sa kanya yung last shot,” the 22-year-old narrated.
“Pag tingin ko sa right ko naka-deny sa kanya si [Andrew] Estrella, pagtingin ko sa left si Igee [King] naka-deny din then yung bantay ni [Jerald] Serrano dumouble sa akin so pagtingin ko sa kanya libre siya.”
Disaster struck for the Generals.
“Hindi kami nagkaintindihan.”
“Pagpasa ko sa kanya nag-cut siya ayun outside,” he rued.
After two free throws by Estrella extended the lead to three with seven ticks remaining, Munsayac had the chance to send the game into extra time but the heave was way too strong.
“Sobrang hirap lalo na crucial sakin pa yung last na errors,” a disappointed Munsayac shared. “Sobrang mali talaga ako nun.”
“Tinake ko yung blame.”
Going back to the locker room, and after being the one who lifted his teammates up, it was their turn to lift their downcast General.
“Ngayong sila naman (nagmotivate sakin),” he said. “Sobrang down ako, hindi nila ako makausap.”
“Si Sidney medyo disappointed sa akin kasi sabi niya I need to give the ball to Morada. In-explain ko sarili sabi ko naka-deny siya at hindi ko puwedeng i-push baka lalo mag-error.”
“Sana naintindihan niya.”
Now in his fifth and final year, and with 14 regular season games left, Munsayac and the Genrals cannot allow themselves to sulk after this heavy loss.
“Siguro for now talagang masakit sakin to. Sana tomorrow mababago at ma-boost ako next game.”
“Sana magtuloy yung maganda kong laro if ever magkaron ako. I-take ko talaga tong error ko ngayon,” he concluded.
With a loss as tough as this, it will either make or break the Generals. From what we have seen, this moment should serve as the glue that will bring Munsayac and the team closer together.
