I wasn’t able to watch the game live on Araneta Coliseum, but my whole heart was there. Me and my friends, Micah and Michelle, were fresh from the frustration of finishing our Advance Logic Circuits project when we went to my home to watch the game televised on Studio 23. We already predicted that the crown will remain to the Tamaraws. Although we are still rooting for the Archers, we already gave ourselves a reason to believe that top 2 is good enough. While watching the first quarter, I already felt that the Archers are trying their best to give the Tamaraws a good fight. I joked and told my fellow fanatics (we’re also Lasallians) this, “Ano nga kaya at suwertehin pa ang mga Archers?” We all laughed. It’s already a wishful thinking for the three of us. By the way, we didn’t attend two of our classes for that game.

                We were silent until the end of the first half. Yes, La Salle led the game by some points but we know the Tamaraws are really good after that 10 minutes or so break time. We don’t want to keep our hopes up. We’ve been disappointed with the Game 2, most especially with the Archer’s other star player, Joseph Yeo. If we do, we’ll end up crying if they lose the game. But the third quarter gave us the most incredible belief that maybe, just maybe, God will permit our most loved team to win the game. Joseph Yeo, Rico Maierhofer and Jer Gaco gave me the hope I needed, well, I hope my friends as well (they are both Mac lovers). A 10-point lead made us smile all through the commercial break before the next quarter begins.

                Off to the last quarter, my heart keeps pounding. Hell, Mark Isip is really good. I can’t even believe that a very big man like him can play that good. Again, all hopes are gone when Isip made that shot and FEU led the game once again. We are nearly crying (I am!). I almost popped my eyes out when I saw that ‘amazing’ Casio three-pointer! My God, this little boy can really bring the house down! We are already jumping with joy. My sister who was inside the room was amazed with me and my friends’ scream. We are screaming and jumping. After the time out, I crossed my fingers. I was saying little prayers that wished Denok or Arwind or Mark won’t make any breaking shot. God was good. God loves me. FEU missed and gave out a foul. That was it. Micah, Michelle and I gave out our loudest scream. Two shots for Mac, and 2.4 seconds left? Oh God, that was almost declaring the Archer’s victory.

                And so it was! The crown is reclaimed! The next scenes were what we loved the most. If I was alone, I would have cried. Although I wasn’t able to see the whole season, I was a witness of the Archers hardships. Reading articles about Mac and Seph saying that this is their only dream, a championship of their own, made me love the team more. I remember that hug for Gaco. Yes indeed, it was Gaco’s last year and they made a promise that Game 3 is for Jerwin. After the game, I saw a different team. I saw a team with real people in it. Mac was crying, Coach Franz as well. The team hugging each other for the biggest game of their life. Mac leading Seph to the other side of the court to get the other net. I saw bunch of proud Lasallians. I was proud as well. I saw the happy faces of the people who supported the team from the very start. I saw my friends, I saw myself. I saw that priceless smile from two of the most important keys on winning the game, Yeo and Cardona. I saw the happiness of achieving their goal in all their years that they played for La Salle. Cardona and Yeo can finally say they won a championship wherein they can be called the leaders. They are no longer the shadows of the past Lasallian players. You may call it luck, but a win is a win. No matter how you achieved it, you can’t change the fact that it is a win.

                Now, we are looking forward to the next season of the UAAP. I am excited on seeing how the two key players will keep the crown at their side. This time, I hope to see Mac as the season’s MVP and Yeo as a part of the Mythical Five. Wishful thinking? You never know! Wishes do come true! HAIL TO DE LA SALLE!