Rommel Calahat made the biggest of plays during San Sebastian’s 73-71 conquest of Lyceum, Tuesday.
Knotted at 71-all with 5.2 seconds left, Allyn Bulanadi could not find anyone during a baseline inbound. But for a split second, Mike Nzeusseu was caught napping that led to a quick pass to Calahat and the go-ahead basket.
“Yung pasa na yun, hindi ko inaasahan yun. Pero naka-focus sila kay RK kaya sa akin niya pinasa. Pasalamat ako sa Panginoon na pumasok yung tira,” recalled the rookie Calahat.
On the other end, he stuck to Reymar Caduyac like glue that led to the game-sealing stop.
“Sinabi po ni Coach Egay na mag-focus ako sa defense at rebound. Yun lang,” the soft-spoken native of Cagayan de Oro added.
Though his heroics was a surprise to many as the Golden Stags have the likes of Bulanadi, Alvin Capobres, and RK Ilagan, it is what Bulanadi is used to seeing from the 20-year-old Calahat everyday.
“Magaling naman ito e, matagal ko ng teammate ito,” said the senior Stag.
By himself, Bulanadi willed the Stags back from 19 down against the Pirates — a team they have struggled to beat over the past three years.
And Calahat made sure to not waste the outing of Bulanadi, who had 28 big points in the game.
“Gusto ko siya matulungan nun kasi hinabol niya yung laro para sa amin.”
With San Sebastian being close to making it to the Final Four, Calahat does not plan to stop in doing what he is doing.
“May sinasabi po si Coach Egay [Macaraya] sa akin tulad ng kailangan ko mag-step up. Bilang rookie, ako maglealead sa second group namin.”
