It’s not often that rookies get entrusted with the responsibility of taking the last shot.
But it did happen on Saturday, when Alaska went to RK Ilagan in the final 4.7 seconds of its 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup match with Meralco.
The play was simple: Get the ball to him, and allow him to do the rest.
And the diminutive point guard didn’t waste the opportunity. He got rid of Bong Quinto’s defense, and then beat the buzzer with a long jumper.
Jubilation then filled the Ynares Center as the Aces won, 94-93.
It was, indeed, the biggest shot of his young career thus far. But head coach Jeff Cariaso had known that Ilagan would make such when given the chance.
“That’s a shot RK works on in practice every day, so I didn’t have a problem with him taking that shot,” said the cager turned mentor about third-round pick in the 2021 Rookie Draft.
“I knew he was going to be able to get a shot off around the free throw line area, if not a little higher. Good for him. I’m happy and proud of him.”
And that kind of trust is what enabled Ilagan to make that gutsy play.
“For me, ‘yung trust na binigay sa’kin ni Coach Jeff na ibigay sa’kin ‘yung last shot,” said the 5-foot-7 guard, who earned Player of the Game honors.
“Sobrang blessed ako kasi na-shoot, tapos nakuha namin ‘yung panalo.”
Not only did he create his finest PBA moment to date, but the proud son of Tondo tallied his best scoring performance as well.
Ilagan finished with 11 points, the first time that he has scored in double figures. He shot 4-of-7 from the floor, and had three rebounds and an assist.
Photo by PBA Images
He couldn’t thank the Aces enough for helping him to get to such a position.
“Thankful ako sa coaches ko, sa mga teammates ko na naniniwala sa akin.”
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