One play can alter the outcome of an entire game. Just ask Roger Pogoy.
Mongolia, the second opponent of Gilas 3×3 in the second day of the 2018 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, were in the midst of a huge rally – cutting a once seven-point lead down to just one with 4:05 left.
When Tsenguunbayar Gotov went for a drive, the 6-foot-2 Pogoy was there for the chase-down block. However, he was all arms, resulting in a foul – and not just any penalty, as the referee slapped him with an unsportsmanlike foul.
Gotov would split his charities, before the rewarded possession gave Mongolia its first lead of the game. They never looked back, as the Philippines fell, 21-17.
Instead of questioning whether the foul he was assessed with deserved to be raised to an unsportmanlike foul, Pogoy was quick to move on, citing that it was their inexperience in the 3×3 game that led them to them commit several fouls in the contest.
“Unang-una, kailangan namin mag-ingat sa fouls kasi ‘pag ma-penalty ka, ang hirap. Two free throws yun, tapos possession pa (‘pag unsportsmanlike),” he shared.
“Natuto din kami na mas physical talaga ang 3-on-3 kaysa sa 5-on-5.”
Moreover, the Cebuano chose to stick to the positives of their first-ever taste of 3×3 competition. Outside of Troy Rosario, the other three members of the team are neophytes in the game. And for him, he is satisfied with their 1-1 standing in Pool C.
“Nagustuhan ko kasi nakapanalo kaming isa,” he beamed.
“At least may chance pa kami sa Monday. Naka-isa kami. Kung dalawang talo, wala na yung chance talaga.“
The Filipinos have a tough task at hand as they face Steve Sir and Canada on Monday at 4:50pm, before ending their group stage campaign against a good Russian team.
Despite this, Pogoy believes that they have a chance to be part of the top two teams in the group that will be granted a berth to the playoff stage.
“May chance naman talaga kasi bilog naman ang bola,” he asserted.
“Kahit malalaki sila, kung papasok naman yung outside natin, si [Stanley] Pringle naman kayang iwanan lahat. Sana maganda ang shooting natin sa Lunes kasi importante ang shooting.“
