MANILA — Wello Lingolingo hit the biggest shot for the University of the East in UAAP Season 87 so far.

The 6-foot-1, 20-year-old shooting guard drained the buzzer-beater for the Red Warriors to beat Adamson University with a 63-62 stunner on Sunday, and this powered the Recto-based team to its fifth straight in after two defeats to start the year. 

"Sinasabi ni coach Jack [Santiago] na hindi dapat hinahanap yung laro, hayaan mo yung laro yung pupunta sayo," said Lingolingo, who was inserted into UE’s five for their final play.

He finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists, and one of his boards came as an offensive glass following a miss from rookie Nico Mulintapang who was the first to attempt a game-winner before him.

"Yun lang yung ginagawa ko. Wala akong tine-take na forced shot, so nung 'di ako makatira ng tres, humanap talaga ako ng way kung paano maka-contribute sa team especially sa defense. Then habang 'di pa tapos yung oras, patuloy pa rin sa paglalaro, yun lang yung mentality ko. Nung na-grab ko yung bola, naisip ko na konting konti na lang yung oras so tine-take ko na yun as an opportunity to get that shot."

"Pero yung game-winning shot, hindi ko talaga in-expect. Parang nandoon lang talaga ako tapos na-make ko lang salamat kay God," added the UE ace.

READ: Wello Lingolingo drills buzzer-beater to lift UE over Adamson

-- Right place, right time --

Asked about the final play, UE head coach Jack Santiago bared that their first option to take the shot was Precious Momowei. 

"Ang number one instruction ko, first option namin is to give the ball to Precious, but we have options also. Nag-ball screen kami, but ang sinabi ko noong last na tira namin is kailangan mag-crash ng boards," said Santiago. 

"Anything can happen. So nangyari nga, miss shot si Nico [Multingtapang], but si Wello came behind and got the offensive rebound," he added.

On the other hand, Lingolingo gave credit to Red Warriors assistant mentor LA Revilla who, said Wello, instilled in him the mentality that eventually paid off in this game. 

"Tinuturo niya sa akin yung winning mentality, na 'wag magpatalo, tsaka yung sinabi niya sa akin kanina right place at the right time," he shared. 

"Kaya yung sa last shot, yun nga sinasabi rin ni Coach LA sa akin na right place at the right time talaga. Nakuha ko lang yung bola tapos nung nakita ko yung oras, 'di na ako nagdalawang isip itira talaga," added Wello, who also bared the manner how he practices those shots.

"Kapag ano lang, pag may one-on-one kami. Palagi kami nagbibiruan so feel ko nakatulong yun sa ginawa ko kanina," he said. 

The UE Red Warriors’s Wello Lingolingo. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

"Pero to be honest, pina-practice ni Wello yan eh. Hindi nga lang pag nasa harapan ko kasi alam niya magagalit ako sa kanya. But at least, binigyan ko sila ng go-signal na you grab the ball and ano tayo, we attack," added Coach Jack.

Moving past this game winner, it is all about staying ready and composed for Wello and the rest of the Red Warriors, much like how they have been doing for the entirety of Season 87 so far. 

"Merong mga different personalities yung mga players," Santiago said. "Meron tayong nakikita na medyo mahiyain, medyo makapal mukha, pero ako kasi, we lose together, we win together."

"Ayoko nung, masama laro mo, malungkot ka dyan. Stand up. I want na mag-improve yung personality ng mga players, na dapat ayaw magpatalo," he emphasized.

RELATED VIDEO: