On a Sunday night, Wello Lingolingo once again showcased his status as University of the East’s ‘Clutch Man’ to the entire UAAP landscape.
As the game wound down with his team trailing by one point, 61-62, Lingolingo secured an offensive rebound from a poorly missed jumper by rookie Nico Mulingtapang.
The third-year gunner displayed his clutch heroics, executing a double pump, bank shot at the buzzer to clinch the victory, extending the Red Warriors’ winning streak to five games and finishing the first round with a 5-2 record, placing them in solo third.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Lingolingo’s heroics not only sealed UE’s fifth win in seven outings, but they also marked the squad’s longest winning streak since Season 77 in 2014, when Derrick Pumaren led UE to five straight wins to close the second round.
“Sinasabi ni Coach Jack (Santiago) na hindi dapat hinahanap ‘yung laro, hayaan mo ‘yung laro ‘yung pupunta sayo. ‘Yun lang yung ginagawa ko wala akong tinitake na forced shot,” expressed the 20-year-old sniper from Kapataga, Lanao del Norte.
“Nung hindi ako makatira ng tres, humanap talaga ako ng way kung paano makacontribute sa team, especially sa defense. Yung game-winning shot, hindi ko talaga inexpect, parang nandoon lang talaga ako tapos na-make ko lang.”
Despite the match being a back-and-forth affair, the Red Warriors only led once before the final buzzer, briefly gaining a 53-52 advantage at the 7:53 mark of the fourth quarter after a triple by Lingolingo.
The team maintained their winning mentality even when they were down for most of the contest, and their second opportunity to take the lead couldn’t have come at a better time with the buzzer-beating game-winner.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Kini-keep namin yung winning mentality kahit ano mangyari so yun nga sinasabi ni coach palagi one game at a time so parang ayaw namin talaga magpatalo yun yung sinasabi kong winning mentality kahit ano mangyari,” revealed the 5-foot-11 junior.
Lingolingo did not hesitate when Mulingtapang’s miss landed in his hands; he was in the right place at the right time to repay head coach Jack Santiago’s trust.
“Parang nakuha ko lang doon tapos nung nakita ko yung oras hindi na ako nagdalawang isip itira talaga kasi wala na rin akong ibang magagawa doon so luckily napasok yung shot,” shared the Placida Mequiabas National High School product.
“Ang saya siyempre lalo na kay coach. Binibigyan niya ako ng tiwala, binibigyan niya ako ng kumpyansa sa sarili kung ano yung kaya kong gawin so thankful lang ako.”
