Ochea's game winner lifts Adamson over Ateneo

Adamson Team Captain Dawn Ochea's career has always been surrounded by doubts, as not everyone can see all the little things he does for the team.

In their latest game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles last September 17 at the Araneta Coliseum, Ochea proved something to all of his doubters. He can deliver.

With Ateneo up 61-60 and only 4.1 ticks remaining in the final period, Ochea, who was still scoreless, was subbed in. And with marksmen Jerrick Ahanmisi and Rob Manalang denied, Ochea received the ball, turned to his left, then pulled up for the biggest shot of his career. The ball went in, and Adamson went up 62-61, turning the Adamson crowd into a frenzy.

Ateneo still had 1.9 secs to steal the game but Thirdy Ravena missed a mid-range jumper, signalling an Adamson win against Ateneo, something not seen since 2011.

After the game, Falcons Head Coach Franz Pumaren revealed that the game-winning play was no accident.

"If I can recall, we had a particular practice game. We ran the same play. But during that particular game, Dawn was gun-shy." Fortunately, this time, Ochea was ready to pull the trigger.

"Sinabi ni coach sakin na no matter what, if ma-deny si Jerrick or Rob. I have to take the shot. Siyempre do-or-die, para nalang yun kay Lord kung pumasok o hindi," the veteran Ochea said.

"Naalala ko yung dati kong mali in our tuneup game before, medyo nagchoke ako. I've been doing that shot every night sa mga practice games namin," Ochea added.

"We've been doing that particular play. We've been making scenarios about that. Of course, it was divine intervention also," Pumaren said of the last shot.

"This is what I miss in college basketball. The excitement. Playing against the national team head coach, it was a good game. It showed the character of the two teams," Pumaren said.

The Soaring Falcons grinded with the Blue Eagles right from the start. However, Ateneo was able to pull away, 56-46, by the end of the third quarter as Adamson was haunted by costly miscues.

"I was worried that the players would quit. But i was stressing to them that this is not the time to quit. We just have to go over the hump and we'll be okay," the multi-title head coach said.

Indeed, the Falcons refused to give the game away as they put together a 14-4 run mainly through Manalang's deadly jumper and Papi Sarr's effort in the paint, tying the game at 60 with two minutes remaining in the final period. Chibueze Ikeh put Ateneo up by one but Adamson still had one last punch in them.

"I salute my players because they've accepted my challenge," Pumaren said. "We played tough. We didn't quit. Hopefully, we can sustain it."

"I've been very hard on them because i feel that they deserve to be a better team. I'm so happy that we did not quit," he added. "With that particular game, kahit kami matalo, I would be happy. Chos," the elated Pumaren jokingly said.

Rob Manalang and Jerrick Ahanmisi provided firepower to Adamson as they led the squad with 15 and 13, respectively. Big man Papi Sarr also added 13 for the Falcons who now have a 2-1 win-loss record.

The Soaring Falcons will next face the NU Bulldogs this September 21, at the MOA Arena.