DAVAO CITY — Robin Roño did everything to lift Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines against their tormentor Batangas-Tanduay in their win-or-go-home game in the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Quarterfinals, Wednesday evening at the RMC Petro Gazz Arena here.
Literally, everything.
“Well, masasabi ko lang talaga is puso lang talaga. Kumbaga, yung game na ito, para sa buong Zamboanga ito,” said the 29-year-old native of Zamboanga.
There is no love lost between Roño and the Athletics stemming from last season. During the Datu South semifinals, Batangas booted out Zamboanga in an epic three-game series.
Up to this day, the product of National University still remembers it all too well.
“Mahal na mahal ko yung Zamboanga at hindi na puwede mangyari yung nangyari sa amin last year. Naalala ko pa rin yung tinalo kami ng Batangas,” the 5-foot-11 floor general said.
“Kaya nung huling practice namin, nag-promise kami na kukunin namin yung game na ito, sa Zamboanga ito.”
During the first three quarters of the game, Roño was as pesky as ever. He stuck to everyone he defended like glue and was even punched by Mon Rogado during the tail-end of the third frame as a result of it.
“Ako, nag-all out. Gusto ko lang manalo. Patay kung patay, patibayan ng loob ito e,” he said about that moment.
Sensing blood in the final frame, he fired seven of his nine points in a game-breaking 17-4 run that put Zamboanga up 67-50 with 2:19 left in the game.
As the dust settled in the highly-emotional contest, Zamboanga was able to exact vengeance on Batangas, racking up a 69-52 triumph to advance to the next round.
And it was all because of the heart showed by Roño during those 40 minutes.
“Do or die ito, kung manalo tanggal. E ayaw ko pa magbakasyon e. Ganun lang,” said Roño, who was a game-high plus-24 in the contest.
“Makipagpatayan ako sa court.”
