SPOKANE, WASH. >> Stefan Jovanovic was supposed to execute a pick and roll. But the only things he rolled were his eyes, at his impetuous friend, point guard Niko Filipovich.

Last Saturday, Filipovich drove past Long Beach State point guard Justin Bibbins for a buzzer-beating layup to end the first half of the Big West championship game. It was a huge moment for Hawaii, which took a six-point lead at intermission thanks to the play of some of the less celebrated Rainbow Warriors. UH went on to win a tense battle, 64-60, and now represents its conference in the NCAA Tournament as a 13 seed against No. 4 California on Friday.

“The play was for me to set a screen for Niko,” recalled Jovanovic, UH’s backup center. “But for some reason he just didn’t wait for me and he just put (Bibbins) on his back … and put the ball in the basket. He’s being a big boy over there.” The 6-foot-11 big man gestured across the lobby of the team hotel.

Filipovich, UH’s 6-foot reserve point guard, offered a shrug.

Filipovich and Jovanovic, former teammates at Bishop Montgomery High in Torrance, Calif., needle each other regularly. The give-and-take is natural from six seasons, and counting, in each other’s sarcastic company.

In all seriousness, were it not for their play — as well as that of freshman guard Sheriff Drammeh — it’s fair to ponder whether UH (27-5) would be in the Big Dance for the first time in 14 years, being picked to upset the Golden Bears by no less than the President of the United States.

Filipovich’s four points against LBSU were his first in UH’s last 12 games. Jovanovic’s nine points, six rebounds and two blocks represented his best production since coming a board shy of double-double against Northern Iowa in the Diamond Head Classic in December. Drammeh contributed two crucial 3s. They all saw more action than usual with headliners Roderick Bobbitt and Stefan Jankovic in foul trouble and Quincy Smith hindered by hip and ankle injuries.

The collective effort embodied coach Eran Ganot’s oft-repeated mantra of “next man up, every man up.”

It was not lost on the starters, some of whom watched from the bench as the backups helped turn a four-point deficit into a six-point lead.

“Their tenacity,” starting power forward Mike Thomas said of what stood out about the reserves that night. “The fact they wanted to win as much as we did. It can be tough or demoralizing throughout the season when you don’t play as much. But then you (supply) key minutes in that game, show up and play big. It was huge for us.”

Filipovich’s big play came against another friend — one whose tendencies he knew well. LBSU’s Bibbins is another Bishop Montgomery alum; they would go head-to-head in practice nearly every day on a team stocked with future Division I players.

Diego Velasco, an assistant coach at Bishop, went to visit his old players during a recent practice at Cal State Fullerton. He beamed about their recent success in the spotlight, while noting it hurt to see Bibbins disappointed.

“We always knew when Niko gets his chance, the minutes that he gets, he’s going to contribute,” Velasco said. “He’s going to do something good for the team. He’ll take care of the ball, take charges. He’s going to play that defense that he’s known for. That’s what he did for us. He was always the guy guarding the toughest player.

“As far as Stefan, he’s a great kid. He’s funny, he’s easygoing. He’s very easy to like. And I’m just happy that he’s getting the success that he’s finally getting.”

Ganot might have to call upon these reserves again in one of the biggest games in program history, against a Golden Bears lineup stocked with former McDonald’s All-Americans. The help has been necessary since Isaac Fleming left the program as the clock struck March.

“I’ve said this a long time, there’s some good players playing behind some really good players,” Ganot said. “We’ve got good depth, and now the advantage is, these guys have gotten some reps at critical moments. That can only help your confidence. At the end of the day, our team, players and coaches have great trust in one another.”

The bond between Jovanovic and Filipovich is particularly strong three years into their run as UH teammates.

“He’s been my brother from Day 1,” Filipovich said.

Filipovich was born in Southern California, but speaks three languages, including Serbian. Jovanovic hails from Serbia; he moved to California to play basketball stateside his sophomore year of high school. When he chooses to speak — “Stef” is one of the quieter ’Bows — his English is accented but clear.

Filipovich, by contrast, chooses to speak often.

“I would describe him as, probably the loudest in the locker room,” Jovanovic said. “Very funny, a guy who likes to joke, who likes to be the head of everything. He likes to organize everything.”

The guard helped take charge of the “Hawaii 5-O” bench antics this season. But even he realizes that has a time and place.

“Being a part of Hawaii 5-O, it was good, it kept me engaged and all that,” Filipovich said. “But there has to be a switch where you turn that seriousness on, and be like, ‘OK, you know what, they need you to step up, and you gotta do whatever’s needed from you.’ ”

Not knowing when, or if, your name will be called is challenging, the two acknowledge. Bobbitt and Jankovic, as first-team all-conference players, rightfully receive the bulk of the minutes at their positions. Jovanovic averages 15.3 minutes per game and Filipovich 5.2.

“That’s your role on the team and you have to embrace it and you have to accept it, and play through it,” Jovanovic said. “I’m very thankful that my coaches and my teammates have the trust in me to put me on the court, and believe in me to give me the ball.”

Come Friday at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena … every man up.