Robbie Herndon may have only had eight points, but they were high-impact buckets as he strongly helped the Magnolia Hotshots against the San Miguel Beermen in Game One of the 2018 Philippine Cup Finals, Friday.
The 24-year-old gunner scored all of his points in the final frame, playing a big role in the Hotshots’ outburst that saw them take a 103-100 lead with 43 ticks left — a rally they had made all the way from 20 points down early in the third.
Magnolia eventually completed the comeback and left the Beermen completely stunned, 105-103.
“I was just on the bench focused, trying to keep myself ready.
“It can be hard sitting down and just getting thrown in there but I’ve learned how to stay ready. I was glad I was able to contribute when I went in,” said Herndon.
“He stepped up big,” lauded Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero. “Talagang ready yung bata. I only used him in the second half. But I think two or three three-point shots plus his defense. Ang ganda ng character niya.
“I’m thankful for Robbie. He always stays positive even nung NLEX [Road Warriors] series, marami din siyang binibigay na positives sa’min.”
Herndon’s score was highlighted by two triples — one in the 7:20-mark, and another with 5:49 on the clock. And for the California native, those shots were made possible thanks to the Beermen’s defensive scheme.
“Whenever I see any team play zone, as a shooter, it’s like a dream come true,” said the 6-foot-3 swingman
“We know what we can do when there’s a zone.”
Their shooting truly brought wonders during Game One as they shot 44.3 percent overall. But for Herndon, the real hero in the triumph was their defense, which forced the defending champions to commit 20 turnovers.
“Raf (Reavis) told us that no matter what happens out there, just keep playing defense,” recalled the sixth overall pick in the 2017 Rookie Draft. “He kept saying that, everybody kept telling each other don’t worry about scoring or anything, just keep playing defense.
“I think that’s what we did and it helped out.”
