During the closing seconds of Rain or Shine’s game against the Meralco Bolts on Sunday evening, Gilas cadet and Elasto Painters rookie Mike Tolomia was tasked to be part of his team’s end game line-up — a huge responsibility for a first-year player.
Rain or Shine were trailing all throughout the game until Tolomia was checked in during the latter part of the third quarter. With him on the floor, things picked up for the Elasto Painters.
The rookie out of Far Eastern University poured all of his points in the payoff period. His first five — off a reverse and a trey — powered an 11-0 run that lifted Rain or Shine ahead by two, 91-87.
Tolomia’s seventh point — a one-hander — came in the 3:49 mark to break a 91-all deadlock. And his ninth came at the most crucial time, 99-98, in favor of his team again with just 61 seconds left.
The Gilas Cadet had chances to cap off the run emphatically, but luck slipped away from his side. He committed a key turnover with 23 ticks left, and his potential game-tying step-back triple with four seconds to go missed its mark.
The 24-year-old was clearly disappointed as he and Rain or Shine walked their way toward the dugout. But shortly after, a more relaxed Tolomia came out of the locker room.
“Part naman talaga ng game yun e, nangyayari talaga yung mga ganung klaseng turnovers,” said Tolomia, when asked if he regretted the miscue he made.
“Learning experience talaga sa akin yun na dadalhin ko pa sa susunod na games.”
With the way he ad asserted himself during crunch time, it looked like he had made a conscious effort to do things in his own way. But for him, everything simply fell right in place, and he took advantage of it.
“Actually hindi. Nakuha [ko] yung rhythm ko sa pag-set up ko sa kanila,” shared Tolomia.
“‘Di ko na ine-expect na gagamitin ako pero nung tinawag ako na maglalaro ako, ready na ako.”
Tolomia was seen riding the bench for the first three quarters, and he believes that the long time he spent on the sidelines helped him play better and explode come the final 12 minutes.
“Yun din yung advantage sa’kin na hindi ako naglaro ng first to third. Nakikita ko yung mali na ginagawa na nauna sakin maglaro, hindi ko na ginagawa yung pagkakamali nila.”
Even head coach Caloy Garcia lauded the neophyte’s effort Sunday night, calling Tolomia a “veteran” with the way he exerted effort despite falling short of their agenda.
“I think the rookie was the veteran today,” Garcia remarked. “At least we know now that Mike can really play in this league. That’s another added weapon siguro, once he gets longer minutes.
“And I think he deserves longer minutes.”
And Tolomia hopes that this particular game of his will be the start of him becoming a regular fixture in the Elasto Painters’ guard-heavy rotation.
“Sana,” Tolomia hoped. “Siyempre ‘di naman ibibigay sayo yun eh. Kailangan pa i-earn yun. Siyempre kailangan ko pa ma-improve sarili ko para makapasok sa rotation.
“Learning experience sa akin ito. Ito yung magpapatatag pa sa akin, sa career ko.”
