Kib Montalbo saw his Hail Mary get answered by the heavens to end the first half of Game 4 of the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, Sunday night.
The TNT guard just heaved the ball from near-halfcourt with time expiring and made it, much to the shock of those inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
He, too, couldn’t believe what happened that he was seen on cameras in total disbelief, while the entire Tropang Giga faithful was all smiles.
That gave his side a 59-41 lead at the break, a lead which they would never relinquish on the way to tying the series at two games apiece, 116-104.
It turns out that the crazy shot was a result of a misread.
“Mali ko ‘yun,” he said moments after the game.
A play, said Montalbo, was drawn for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to get something out of the 2.5 seconds remaining before the intermission, but the young guard thought the newly-minted was denied of the inbound pass.
The ball went to him instead, he added.
“Coach Jolas [Jojo Lastimosa] drew a play, I thought denied na si Rondae so umakyat ako. Napunta lang sa akin ‘yung bola,” he said.
Then came the shot.
“I was aware that konti na lang yung oras, so binato ko na lang. Thank God it went in,” said Montalbo with a slight grin.
Nonetheless, it was a play that got talked about on social media, and one that also served as a microcosm of how he shot the ball in the victory.
The La Salle alum shot 46-percent from the floor that included a 4-of-8 clip from deep on the way to a season-high 16 points, on top of five rebounds, two assists, and a steal as he took advantage of his first start in a very long while.
Him staying ready for opportunities like this, especially with Roger Pogoy out for the series due to a broken finger, led to such a performance, according to Montalbo, who was just averaging a little over two points prior.
“‘Yung mindset ko naman coming into this game is to just stay ready. Kasi alam ko si Roger wala,” he said.
“And, Coach placed me sa starting position. I was actually here before sa Finals, sa starter position. Hindi man ako nakakalaro, I still put in the work. Just staying ready because you never know, things like that happen sa Finals.
“I just stayed ready, and I just wanna help the team. Sabi rin ni Coach Jolas, na ipakita niyo ‘yung attitude niyo na ayaw niyo matalo. Ayaw ko talaga matalo,” the 27-year-old added.
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The 2023 PBA Governors Cup Finals is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
