Mathew Montebon unleashed the biggest shot of his collegiate career yet to bring Adamson University closer to its Final Four dream in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Montebon, a 20-year-old rookie from Newark Memorial High School, converted a playoff-clinching three with 2.7 seconds left in the clock.
The shot propelled the Soaring Falcons past the UE Red Warriors, 63-61.
It also earned them a game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles for the last postseason ticket.
“I was just in the zone during that play. Coach had me, I think in the huddle, the play was supposed to screen for Ced (Manzano) and come off another screen,” said Montebon, who had 16 points and seven rebounds for Adamson.
“I thought the ball was gonna go to Ced then when I got it, I didn’t know who was behind me. So I just did a step-back corner (three). I thought I missed it because I just threw it up and fell down, but luckily it went in,” the 6-foot guard continued.
“During the shot, it was just clear mind, just playing basketball. And then when it went in, I was like oh, shoot! And then I heard the whole crowd go crazy. I got kinda energetic and then the coaches told me to calm down and that was about it.”
While Montebon was the hero for Adamson, his counterpart Jack Cruz-Dumont could have stolen the show and been the protagonist for UE, which played a spoiler role in its last game of the season.
Cruz-Dumont scored a go-ahead three for the Red Warriors with 11 seconds left – before Montebon scored his.
And the former could have broken the Soaring Falcons’ hearts but he missed another three with a second remaining in the game.
Turns out, both players enjoyed some banter on the floor while everyone was on the edge of their seats.
“Vince was shooting his free throw and then I was like, I told him, ‘Don’t hit the shot on me’ because I was guarding him,” said Montebon.
“He was like, ‘I’m gonna end your season.’ I was like ok, and then he hit the shot. And then walking back, he was like, ‘I told you’, then our play happened and obviously I hit the shot.”
Ultimately, Adamson earned the right to fight for another day thanks to Montebon’s three. All of the Soaring Falcons’ hard work this year could have gone to waste if his shot did not make it.
While he is hesitant to claim all of the credit, no one can be blamed for remembering him for his heroic shot.
“You stole the show huh,” said coach Nash Racela to Montebon.
