Consider this scenario: A basketball game is tied and a player is sent to the line for two shots with both teams having no time-outs left and around three seconds left in the game. The player makes the first freethrow. What does he do with the next?
Will he want to brick it to disallow the team from inbounding the ball and instead take chance of the other team rebounding it and make a quick play at the other basket with the time left?
Will he want to shoot it and let the chips roll in the next play because a team presumably wants their players to try to make a basket at all times?
Will he want to sink it because it affects his freethrow percentage?
Will he succumbed to pressure and miss both?
This is why sports fans love to watch sports. There is no better drama provided for entertainment than the real scenarios created by conflicts like this.
Much different than the fake situations made up in other entertainment avenues like the movies or the World Wrestling Entertainment.
Recently, two games illustrated different results might come out of this drama. Another one displayed why the task of going to the line this case is not an easy one.
Ateneo Blue Eagles vs Chinese Taipei-Blue, 2018 Jones Cup
This game was tied 74-all when Thirdy Ravena got called for a reach-in foul on Chen Ying-Chun that sent him to the line.
Ying-Chun sank both freethrows to give the host team a 76-74 lead with 3.1 seconds left in regulation.
It was, however, clearly flashed on TV screens that Chinese Taipei head coach Charlie Parker would have preferred the second freethrow intentionally missed. Parker and Ying-Chun was shown arguing as the player walked to the bench during the Tab Baldwin, head coach of Ateneo, timeout to mop out the final play at his end.
At the resumption of play, Raven redeemed himself from the foul to find Matt Nieto wide open in rainbow territory on a cross-court pass, who in turn, sank the cold-blooded game-winning triple that sealed the win, 77-76, leaving only 0.2 seconds on the clock, virtually not enough to make a decent play.
I wonder what would have happened if Ying-Chun intentionally missed the second and Ateneo would have to rebound the ball, rush to their court and get off a shot.
Game 4: Ginebra vs Rain or Shine, 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup
Ginebra is up, 95-94, with both teams having no more timeouts and only 5.7 seconds left in regulation.
Scottie Thompson inbounds the ball to Joe Devance near midcourt, who was immediately swarmed by a double team. He quickly gave up the ball to Jeff Chan, who holds on to the ball resulting to a foul that sends him to the line, leaving just 2.4 seconds on the clock.
Chan over misses the first but sinks the second.
Beau Belga throw in the inbounds pass but Chan taps it from behind, 1.4 seconds left, Rain or Shine retains possession.
Ginebra sends in Greg Slaughter to distract the inbounder, Gabe Norwood. Norwood sends the pass to James Yap and Thompson steals it from behind to secure the win.
I wonder what would have happened if Chan intentionally missed the second freethrow and the Elasto Painters would have to rebound the ball, rush to their court and get off a shot.
Game 3: Ginebra vs Rain or Shine, 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup
The Gin Kings were leading, 74-72, with 8.8 seconds left. They have ball possession and are inbounding in front of their bench.
Justin Brownlee cleanly receives the inbounds pass and dribbled towards midcourt as a triple team rushes toward him.
He, however, decided to take more time off the clock and played hot potato on the ball by dishing it off to LA Tenorio on a cross court pass, who was quickly fouled by the Elasto Painters. Three seconds were chopped off the game clock.
It should be noted that Brownlee was red-hot this night. He already had 44 points, was 14/17 from the floor was 10 of 12 from the line at that point. Tenorio, although a reliable freethrow shooter himself, already missed one earlier and was struggling on the floor, 0/6 from two-point region and 4/14 overall.
Tenorio overcooked the first but sink the second to give Ginebra a three point lead. Rain or Shine sued time for the last play.
Upon resumption, James Yap badly missed a long triple and could not release another attempt in time as Reggie Johnson gave him a return pass after securing the rebound.
I wonder if Coach Tim Cone prefer Brownlee to hold on to the ball and waited for the foul had Yap sank the triple and send the game into overtime.
It is no wonder why sports have many fans. It’s really like watching a movie, only that the storyline isn’t scripted.
Some think they are, although I’m almost 100% certain they are not.
By: ARMANDO BOLISLIS
