By: Ohmer Bautista
Arellano University Chiefs point guard Levi Dela Cruz has been turning heads and raising eyebrows with his recent clutch performances in the NCAA Season 94 Seniors Basketball tournament.
But the most recent one in his small gallery of late game heroics took shape on Friday evening.
After the tiff between the Chiefs and San Sebastian Golden Stags went into overtime, both teams figured in a seesaw battle that led to an 81-79 lead for San Sebastian, courtesy of split from JM Calma with 11 ticks left in regulation.
Unable to sue for time, Arellano head coach Jerry Codiñera kept his faith in the five Chiefs on the floor, leaving the decision-making all in their hands – particularly with his point general, whom he had reminded of a play after Calma’s freethrows.
“Actually, sinabi ko kasi yun, bago ka (Dela Cruz) tumira, pasa mo muna sa kasama mo, swing sa kabila, kapag bumalik na sayo, wag ka muna shoot first before the pass,” Codiñera confessed. “Eleven seconds, wala ka ng matawag (na play). Naka zone sila eh, so they had to read and attack the gaps. Actually, he was covered.
“May tao, siya na yun eh. Wala kaming libre sa wing, attack the gaps, pagka nag-suck in yung defense, isang kick, isang pull. Yun nga, pinasa niya, pagkabalik, tinira nga niya.”
After the 5-foot-7 guard hoisted for a game-winning three at the top of the key, the scale immediately dropped to Arellano’s side as the ball found the bottom of the net.
With only four seconds left in the game, instead of celebrating his momentum-shifting trey, the 23-year-old combo guard surprisingly shrugged off any shred of celebratory feelings and returned to defense. He intercepted an inbound pass from the Stags to seal the game for good.
According to him, what had kept him locked in and focused during the crucial stretches was their last game against Lyceum Pirates that went for naught.
“Gusto ko talagang manalo,” Dela Cruz bared after 10 points all in the second half, on top of nine assists and four steals. “Siyempre nakakahiya yung last game namin, grabe parin tama sakin kasi lamang na kami. Sobrang laki nung sinayang naming opportunity na ‘yun na matalo yung Lyceum.
“Kaya ngayon sa Baste, sabi ko focus lang kahit ang pangit ng first to third quarter ko, pag binunot ako, bawi muna ako sa depensa kasi sobrang alat offense ko sa umpisa. Hanggang sa last second, naagaw ko yung inbound play nila.”
After saving the day for the beleaguered Chiefs – something Dela Cruz has done twice in three outings, including back in their curtain-raiser against the EAC Generals – Codiñera sung high praises for his prized-guard.
“Levi has a big heart. He’s a make or break kid,” Codiñera said. “Talagang he doesn’t back down on an opportunity.
“He knows he can do it. Big heart.”
