Unsportsmanlike fouls are usually hard hits, but what Renzo Subido did on Sunday was simply bizarre.
Referees called Subido for the violation after they caught him pinching Dave Ildefonso’s behind at the 4:17-mark of the fourth quarter of the UST Growling Tigers’ UAAP Season 82 clash with the NU Bulldogs.
The 5-foot-9 admitted his actions were part of his mind games since his Growling Tigers were down 56-60 at that point.
“More of ano lang yun… Psy-war,” said the 22-year-old, who’s playing his fifth and final year with the Growling Tigers.
“Mind games kasi walang nangyayari sa amin, so I think I had to do something na, ‘Uy lets go team, ‘di ako papatalo’.”
The last time this happened in recent memory was back in August of 2011. Mark Yee, then playing for Talk ‘N Text, grabbed the butt of Petron import Anthony Grundy.
When asked if his actions helped, Subido believes so. The son of PBA legend Danny Ildefonso then missed both of his foul shots, which could have widened the Bulldogs’ lead to six points.
Still, the Bulldogs seemed unfazed since they went on to post a 68-63 lead with 42.3 seconds left in the fourth. But UST rallied, forced overtime, and came out with the 87-74 triumph.
The win was its own redemption following UST’s stinging 70-71 defeat to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Wednesday.
The fifth-year floor general, of course, takes pride in the way his Growling Tigers managed to come out victorious despite the situation. He pointed out that it only shows how their young team has been developing maturity as the season goes along.
“Even if we’re a young team, it shows na kahit papano, nade-develop namin yung maturity of the team, kahit na yung rookies,” said Subido, who finished with seven points and two steals. “It was really a total team effort.
“Nag-buy-in lang kami sa sistema ni coach Aldin, na even if everyone’s really tired, focus lang talaga sa game plan.”
