Monbert Arong was at the right place at the right time.
Receiving an inbound pass from the baseline from Joe Trinidad, the Cebuano guard pump-faked at the right corner, caught Alfred Aroga in the air, and went closer as he fired the game-winning jumper to lift the Far Eastern University Tamaraws over the National University Bulldogs once more.
The ball found the net with 3.7 seconds to spare, as that jumper allowed the Tamaraws to stun the Bulldogs, 57-56, Sunday afternoon.
“Sabi kasi ni coach Nash, i-shoot mo. Eh di shinoot ko naman,” the 24-year-old said.
That shot was just the right exclamation point for an amazing week for Arong, as he also took home the ACCEL Quantum/3XVI-UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week citation, becoming the first non-La Salle player to claim the plum this season.
Arong provided the lift for FEU this week as they completed an elimination round sweep of NU, first pouring 20 points, three assists, and a rebound in the tight 78-75 victory on Wednesday, before following it up with 13 markers, seven coming in the fourth period, to go with two boards and two assists in the second round opener
Little did everyone know that he had done all of that despite nursing a sprained ankle he sustained last Wednesday.
“Buti na lang nagkaroon pa siya ng lakas for the last play,” Racela said.
“Today, he was the go to guy. We hope that every game naman, kung sino man ang puntahan namin, maka-deliver whoever that is. We’re just happy that Monbert was able to deliver for us today.”
For Arong, though, it’s just a matter of trusting himself and his teammates, as the Tamaraws seek to sustain their five-game winning run.
“Binubulong ko lang sa sarili ko yung bible verse na, ‘I can do all things through Christ.’ Kaya talagang confident lang ako na ma-shoot ko yung ball.”
“Credit to the coaches at sa mga teammates ko rin dahil nag-teamwork kami at di kami bumitaw until the end,” he added.
Arong bested the following student-athletes for the weekly crown:
Ricci Rivero (DLSU Green Archers)
Jett Manuel (UP Fighting Maroons)
