FEU guard Iñigo on banked triple: 'It was a lucky shot'

Much has been said for Far Eastern U’s crafty guard Mike Tolomia, who has certainly come into his own this season following the departure of former league MVP awardees Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia.

But his new backcourt partner, Achie Iñigo, is relishing his role away from the limelight while getting the job done for the Tamaraws.

The 5-foot-9 Iñigo made this known on Saturday afternoon when he delivered big buckets down the stretch, including the go-ahead triple, to help FEU dodge feisty University of the Philippines 75-69 and move a step closer towards clinching a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

After the 5-foot-10 Tolomia picked up his fifth and final foul against Fighting Maroons guard Mikee Reyes with a little over three minutes left to play, the Tamaraws needed help and even felt the mounting pressure following Diego Dario’s trey that put UP ahead 69-68.

Good thing for FEU, Iñigo rose to the occasion as he banked in a dagger of a triple that went off the glass, putting them on top anew while sparking a jarring seven-to-nothing closeout to foil UP’s upset bid.

“Pinagdasal ko ‘yung tira ni Achie na pumasok,” shared FEU assistant coach Eric Gonzales, who called the shots in the absence of chief tactician Nash Racela who is currently helping the Gilas Pilipinas campaign in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Seville, Spain as one of the deputies of national team mentor Chot Reyes.

“Boarding pa! Sabi ko nga, ‘Lord ikaw na yan,’” added Gonzales, heaving a big of relief.

Even Iñigo felt that backbreaking triple was a stroke of luck. “Tsamba lang ‘gun,” he said. “Hindi ko talaga ramdam na mash-shoot. Nasa isip ko lang na kung ma-shoot, para sa amin talaga ‘yun game. Crucial lang talaga kasi lumamang rin kami.”

Thanks to Iñigo’s clutch exploits, the Tamaraws stretched their winning streak to six ames and tightened their grip on the top spot with a 9-2 mark, assuring themselves of at least a playoff for one of the semifinal spots.

While Tolomia, ace forward Mac Belo and American import Anthony Hargrove finished with at least 11 markers, it was the 23-year-old Iñigo who stole the thunder in the stretch where he fired five of his eight points inside the last two minutes aside from hauling down a game-high 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals in nearly 30 solid minutes of play.

“Si Achie, ang basa ko sa kanya, he’s very responsible and coachable. At the same time, magaling rin siya dumipensa. Naka-focus talaga siya at siya rin ang extension namin sa court,” said Gonzales. “Major minutes rin sa’min ‘yan as one of the major players. More than his shooting, its how he orchestrates our plays (that pleases us).”

Although he came through with timely buckets against the Maroons, the soft-spoken Iñigo has no plans of changing his game approach. “Sabi niyo stability sa team. ‘Yun pa rin ang gagawin ko. I-involve mga teammates ko. Hindi ko naman kasi iniisip maka-iskor dahil mga teammates ko kayang kaya naman umiskor. Kung malibre man ako, saka lang ako titira,” he said.