Xyrus Torres gave all the credit to a solid support system after overcoming what had been an emotional roller-coaster personally to help NLEX escape Barangay Ginebra in their PBA Philippine Cup encounter on Wednesday night.
The rookie guard admitted that he was on the verge of breaking down after committing a turnover approaching the two-minute mark of the match, as he felt that nothing was going his way beginning at the turn of the new half.
“Gusto ko na ngang umiyak eh,” he told reporters moments after their thrilling 89-86 win before a good crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “Kasi crucial eh.”
That particular TO, which left him stressed out, happened at the 2:06 mark of the fourth quarter, when he failed to catch the pass of Robert Bolick.
His Road Warriors, at that time, were staring at an 82-81 deficit — that, after squandering a 17-point lead which they erected during the third
“Natapat pa ‘ko sa crucial. Tapos parang may chance–malaki ‘yung chance namin na manalo. Baka dahil doon sa turnover na ‘yun, mawala pa,” he said.
That dragged his confidence further as he had already committed two quick fouls early in the fourth — a charging infraction against RJ Abarrientos, and then a defensive foul against the much taller Japeth Aguilar.
“Tapos before that, nagsunod-sunod … Nagfa-foul ako. So parang nawawalan na ‘ko ng tiwala sa sarili ko eh,” recalled the 24-year-old.
(C) PBA Images
Fortunately for him, his team kept his chin up, and the kind of support he received allowed him to soldier on — and come through in the clutch.
Torres knocked down the go-ahead trifecta from the corner for the 86-85 lead with 48.2 seconds left to play, putting NLEX ahead for good.
He felt so relieved that the former Far Eastern University gunner seemingly prayed to the heavens above in an apparent gesture of gratitude.
“Parang all throughout the game kasi, struggle ako offense and defense, parang hindi ko makuha ‘yung momentum ko,” said the ex-Batang Gilas member, who finished with 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, three rebounds, and four assists.
“Kaya rin siguro na-shoot ‘yun, credit din sa mga teammates and coaches ko kasi while nagii-struggle ako, nandoon sila sa bench na, ‘Okay lang ‘yan.’ Nili-lift nila ako eh. So malaking tulong din ‘yun.”
The nerves, though, didn’t end there for Torres. He missed both of his free throws with 11 seconds to go, which could have widened their lead further.
Bolick, thankfully, made his own pair of charities with seven seconds left for the eventual scoreline, and a miss by Scottie Thompson on the other end ultimately enabled the Road Warriors to stretch their winning streak to four.
The former MPBL cager bared that he was still thinking of those botched freebies even after the game, but finds comfort with his mentors’ advice.
Because he, too, believes that he’d only grow from such experiences — and apply those very lessons if ever he finds himself in a similar situation.
“Sobrang laking tulong ‘to, lalo na Ginebra ‘yung kalaban. Tapos ilang seconds pa, natapat pa ‘ko sa free throw e. Tapos nagmintis. Nanghihinayang ako until now. Pero sabi rin nga ng mga coaches, learnings,” he reflected.
“Matutunan ko ‘yan everytime na mapunta ka sa situation na ‘yun. Kaya sobra talagang makakatulong ‘yun, for sure, sa akin, ‘pag napunta ako sa sitwasyon ulit na ganun.”
#WATCH: Xyrus Torres shakes off a rough night and comes up clutch with the dagger triple to lift NLEX past Ginebra 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/XTsQfbXsRd
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 7, 2025
