Delivering game-winners is becoming a habit for UE's Sumang
Taking–and making–the big shots is fast becoming a big part of Roi Sumang’s routine for University of the East. And he’s clearly the biggest reason why the Recto-based squad is the hottest team right now in UAAP Season 76.
Like a predator smelling blood, the 5-foot-8 Sumang went for the kill against the banged-up University of Santo Tomas last Thursday, making the game-winning scoop lay-up with 11 seconds left that powered UE to stunning, come-from-behind 68-67 victory at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Aside from joining fellow preseason favorite National University at the second spot with a 5-3 mark, the Red Warriors extended their winning run to four–now the longest active winning streak after the erstwhile unscathed Far Eastern U Tamaraws got derailed by the Bulldogs 58-59 last Wednesday.
Most of the credit should go to Sumang, who flourished anew with an all-around outing of a team-high 20 points on top of a game-best 10 assists, four rebounds and a steal against four errors in 33 minutes of action.
More importantly, the unflappable guard from Tondo proved he’s indeed ready to deliver when coach Boycie Zamar and the Red Warriors needed him the most, pumping 12 big points from all angle in the fourth, capped by the game-clinching lay-up against Tiger defenders Ed Daquioag and import Karim Abdul with 11 seconds left to play.
For Sumang, it’s just part of his job as UE’s go-to-guy.
“Nung first half, in-involve ko muna mga teammates ko. Nung second half, parang hindi na nag-ki-click ‘yung ginagawa ko kaya ako na ang gumawa para sa’kin at sa mga teammates ko,” said the fourth-year guard, who previously bailed UE out with a back-breaking four-point play that led to an equally-thrilling 71-66 win over NU last July 6.
“Sabi ni Coach kung sino may pinakamalaking puso (siya ang titira ng game-winner). So kinuha ko na naman ulit. Gumana na naman. Diskarte rin. Magaling rin si Coach gumawa ng biglaang play. Puso sa puso lang,” he added.
But before Sumang completed his heroic act, UE initially gained a golden break, with Daquioag throwing a risky cross-court inbound pass to teammate Kevin Ferrer, who got the leather but stepped on the sideline, giving back UE another possession–and eventually the victory.
“In the last twenty seconds, we had the chance there. Fortunately we had two timeouts to make a certain defense. Ang unang tinanong ko sa kanila, ‘Naniniwala ba kayo?’ Walang sumasagot. Ako lang ata,” shared Zamar. “And when they had the chance to force a crosscourt pass, that was the break.”
Zamar, a former Red Warrior who helped the team win back-to-back titles from 1984 to 1985, was surely glad to have a Sumang in his fold. “He not only has the heart but also the head. H and H–head and heart. He had that in this game,” he said.
However, Zamar was quick to stress the work is not yet done for Sumang and the Red Warriors.
“For us it’s an overachievement. I like that word ‘hottest.’ But again, we will take it from there. Nakita natin, it’s still anybody’s ballgame now. Yes, we were considered contenders pero lahat na ng teams ‘yan ngayong sa second round. The team that makes fewer mistakes wins. As much as possible, dikit lang kami sa mga leaders,” he said.
