WITH co-team captain Aljon Mariano struggling, the UST Growling Tigers found an unlikely hero in reserve forward Kent Lao in their victory against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
Lao, who shot six of eight from the field, led the UST bench with a career-high 14 points, providing crucial buckets for the Tigers in the end-game, including the game-clinching layup.
“I was also surprised with my performance,” he told the Varsitarian in Filipino. “My mindset was for us to execute all the plays and defend well.”
Head coach Bong dela Cruz acknowledged that he should have given Lao more minutes in UST’s last outing, a humiliating loss to the National University.
“I admit that I failed to include him in my rotation in the previous game that’s why I talked to him and told him that I would need him in the next game. Good thing he delivered,” Dela Cruz said.
Lao made the biggest impact in the third quarter, scoring eight points, including back-to-back three-pointers, that halted an FEU run and allowed UST to regain momentum heading into the fourth quarter.
The 6’3” forward added that it was his first time to play a big role in a big game and he just made most of his opportunity.
“It was the first time in my entire career that I was used in the fourth quarter that long that’s why I told myself that I really had to step up,” he said.
The Tigers will hope to carry their momentum against the Adamson Falcons next week at the MOA Arena. Josiah Darren G. Saynes
