It took a lot of courage and a whole lot of balls for Paul Desiderio to put up the early play of the year candidate.
With 5.3 ticks remaining and UST up 73-71, the TV cameras luckily caught UP head coach Bo Perasol’s huddle. As he was drawing up a play, UP senior Paul Desiderio suddently stepped in.
“Atin ‘to, papasok ito,” he exclaimed.
He was just 5-for-19 from the field and 1-for-10 during that time.
“Hindi ko alam how he does that, but during the timeout, he called it,” disclosed Perasol.
“Ibig sabihin, ‘Papasok ito.’ Sinabi niya na, ‘Coach, mananalo tayo, papasok itong tira na ito.'”
UP prized recruit Jun Manzo was able to find Desiderio on top of the key who knocked down a rainbow for the game-winner. Yes, he called it!
“Siyempre ang dami ko nang tinira eh. Mahihiya pa ba ako eh last shot na? Sayang naman.
“Sabi naman ni Coach Bo na pag-open, tira mo na, so tinira ko na lang din. Buti na lang, pumasok,” shared Desiderio, who finished the game with 17 points and nine rebounds.
“Nag-usap kami, sabi ko, ‘Dong, para sayo to kasi ikaw talaga yung hinahanap ko.’ Ayun, sabi niya, ‘Sige dong. Ibigay mo sakin yung bola, isu-shoot ko talaga ‘to.'” added Manzo, who was Desiderio’s teammate in Cebu.
“Kumpyansa kami pareho na maipapasok niya yung bola.”
And the 20-year-old combo guard was confident that the shot would go in, saying that he has been working on this moment since the off-season that saw him train under coach Egay Macaraya with the Cafe France Bakers.
“Siyempre matagal ko nang pina-practice ‘yung three-point shots, kasi laging sinasabi ni Coach Bo na practisin ko talaga. So sinabi ko sa sarili ko na papasok ito,” furthered the Liloan, Cebu-native.
“Nag-time out pa lang si Coach Bo, sinabi ko sa kanila na pag-open ako, ibigay niyo, kasi ititira ko talaga.”
Desiderio hopes that lightning could strike twice for him and the Fighting Maroons come Wednesday when they face neighbors Ateneo Blue Eagles.
“Sana ma-chambahan. Malay mo, may off naman sila, i-grab namin ang opportunity na ‘yun.”
